Genes and polypeptides relating to prostate cancers

ABSTRACT

The present application provides novel human gene MICAL2-PV whose expression is markedly elevated in prostate cancers. Furthermore, it provides polypeptides encoded by the gene as well as polypeptides encoded by PCOTH which expression was also discovered to be elevated in prostate cancers. The genes and polypeptides encoded by the genes can be used, for example, in the diagnosis of prostate cancers, as target molecules for developing drugs against the disease, and for attenuating cell growth of prostate cancer.

The present application is related to U.S. Ser. No. 60/414,873, filed Sep. 30, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of biological science, more specifically to the field of cancer research. In particular, the present invention relates to novel polypeptides encoded by a novel gene A5736 (MICAL2-PV) and gene D4493 (PCOTH) relating to prostate cancer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the novel gene A5736 (MICAL2-PV). The genes and polypeptides of the present invention can be used, for example, in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, as target molecules for developing drugs against the disease, and for attenuating cell growth of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND ART

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in male in Western countries (Gronberg, Lancet 361: 859-64 (2003)). Incidence of prostate cancer is steadily increasing in developed countries due to the prevalence of Western-style diet and increasing number of senior population. Early diagnosis through serum testing for prostate specific antigen (PSA) provides an opportunity for curative surgery and has significantly improved the prognosis of prostate cancer. However, up to 30% of patients treated with radical prostatectomy relapse cancer (Han et al., J Urol 166: 416-9 (2001)). Most relapsed or advanced cancers respond to androgen ablation therapy because the growth of prostate cancer is androgen-dependent in the initial stages. However, most of the patient treated by the therapy eventually progress to androgen-independent disease, at which point they are no longer responsive to the therapy. The most serious clinical problem of prostate cancer is that androgen-independent prostate cancer is unresponsive to any other therapies (Gronberg, Lancet 361: 859-64 (2003)). Thus, the establishment of new therapies other than androgen ablation therapy against prostate cancer is an urgent issue for the management of prostate cancer.

cDNA microarray technologies have enabled to obtain comprehensive profiles of gene expression in normal and malignant cells, and compare the gene expression in malignant and corresponding normal cells (Okabe et al., Cancer Res 61:2129-37 (2001); Kitahara et al., Cancer Res 61: 3544-9 (2001); Lin et al., Oncogene 21:4120-8 (2002); Hasegawa et al., Cancer Res 62:7012-7 (2002)). This approach enables to disclose the complex nature of cancer cells, and helps to understand the mechanism of carcinogenesis. Identification of genes that are deregulated in tumors can lead to more precise and accurate diagnosis of individual cancers, and to develop novel therapeutic targets (Bienz and Clevers, Cell 103:311-20 (2000)). To disclose mechanisms underlying tumors from a genome-wide point of view, and discover target molecules for diagnosis and development of novel therapeutic drugs, the present inventors have been analyzing the expression profiles of tumor cells using a cDNA microarray of 23040 genes (Okabe et al., Cancer Res 61:2129-37 (2001); Kitahara et al., Cancer Res 61:3544-9 (2001); Lin et al., Oncogene 21:4120-8 (2002); Hasegawa et al., Cancer Res 62:7012-7 (2002)).

Studies designed to reveal mechanisms of carcinogenesis have already facilitated identification of molecular targets for anti-tumor agents. For example, inhibitors of farnexyltransferase (FTIs) which were originally developed to inhibit the growth-signaling pathway related to Ras, whose activation depends on posttranslational farnesylation, has been effective in treating Ras-dependent tumors in animal models (He et al., Cell 99:33545 (1999)). Clinical trials on human using a combination or anti-cancer drugs and anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab, have been conducted to antagonize the proto-oncogene receptor HER2/neu; and have been achieving improved clinical response and overall survival of breast-cancer patients (Lin et al., Cancer Res 61:6345-9 (2001)). A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, STI-571, which selectively inactivates bcr-abl fusion proteins, has been developed to treat chronic myelogenous leukemias wherein constitutive activation of ber-abl tyrosine kinase plays a crucial role in the transformation of leukocytes. Agents of these kinds are designed to suppress oncogenic activity of specific gene products (Fujita et al., Cancer Res 61:7722-6 (2001)). Therefore, gene products commonly up-regulated in cancerous cells may serve as potential targets for developing novel anti-cancer agents. In fact, novel drugs targeting abnormally expressed molecules that have causative effects on cancer growth and progression have been proven to be effective to certain types of cancers. Such drugs include Herceptin for breast cancer, Glivec (STI571) for CML and Iressa (ZD1839) for non-small cell lung cancer.

Several molecules have been known to be over-expressed in prostate cancer and are identified as therapeutic targets or markers of prostate cancer (Xu et al., Cancer Res 60: 6568-72 (2000); Luo et al., Cancer Res 62: 2220-6 (2002)). However, most of them are also highly expressed in other major organs. Thus, agents that target these molecules may be toxic to cancer cells but may also adversely affect normally growing cells of other organs.

It has been demonstrated that CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize epitope peptides derived from tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) presented on MHC Class I molecule, and lyse tumor cells. Since the discovery of MAGE family as the first example of TAAs, many other TAAs have been discovered using immunological approaches (Boon, Int J Cancer 54: 177-80 (1993); Boon and van der Bruggen, J Exp Med 183: 725-9 (1996); van der Bruggen et al., Science 254: 1643-7 (1991); Brichard et al., J Exp Med 178: 489-95 (1993); Kawakami et al., J Exp Med 180: 347-52 (1994)). Some of the discovered TAAs are now in the stage of clinical development as targets of immunotherapy. TAAs discovered so far include MAGE (van der Bruggen et al., Science 254: 1643-7 (1991)), gp100 (Kawakami et al., J Exp Med 180: 347-52 (1994)), SART (Shichijo et al., J Exp Med 187: 277-88 (1998)), and NY-ESO-1 (Chen et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94: 1914-8 (1997)). On the other hand, gene products which had been demonstrated to be specifically over-expressed in tumor cells, have been shown to be recognized as targets inducing cellular immune responses. Such gene products include p53 (Umano et al., Brit J Cancer 84: 1052-7 (2001)), HER2/neu (Tanaka et al., Brit J Cancer 84: 94-9 (2001)), CEA (Nukaya et al., Int J Cancer 80: 92-7 (1999)), and so on.

In spite of significant progress in basic and clinical research concerning TAAs (Rosenbeg et al., Nature Med 4: 321-7 (1998); Mukhedji et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 8078-82 (1995); Hu et al., Cancer Res 56: 2479-83 (1996)), only limited number of candidate TAAs for the treatment of adenocarcinomas, including colorectal cancer, are available. TAAs abundantly expressed in cancer cells, and at the same time which expression is restricted to cancer cells would be promising candidates as immunotherapeutic targets. Further, identification of new TAAs inducing potent and specific antitumor immune responses is expected to encourage clinical use of peptide vaccination strategy in various types of cancer (Boon and can der Bruggen, J Exp Med 183: 725-9 (1996); van der Bruggen et al., Science 254: 1643-7 (1991); Brichard et al., J Exp Med 178: 489-95 (1993); Kawakami et al., J Exp Med 180: 347-52 (1994); Shichijo et al., J Exp Med 187: 277-88 (1998); Chen et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94: 1914-8 (1997); Harris, J Natl Cancer Inst 88: 1442-5 (1996); Butterfield et al., Cancer Res 59: 3134-42 (1999); Vissers et al., Cancer Res 59: 5554-9 (1999); van der Burg et al., J Immunol 156: 3308-14 (1996); Tanaka et al., Cancer Res 57: 4465-8 (1997); Fujie et al., Int J Cancer 80: 169-72 (1999); Kikuchi et al., Int J Cancer 81: 459-66 (1999); Oiso et al., Int J Cancer 81: 387-94 (1999)).

It has been repeatedly reported that peptide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from certain healthy donors produce significant levels of IFN-γ in response to the peptide, but rarely exert cytotoxicity against tumor cells in an HLA-A24 or -A0201 restricted manner in ⁵¹Cr-release assays (Kawano et al., Cancer Res 60: 3550-8 (2000); Nishizaka et al., Cancer Res 60: 4830-7 (2000); Tamura et al., Jpn J Cancer Res 92: 762-7 (2001)). However, both of HLA-A24 and HLA-A0201 are one of the popular HLA alleles in Japanese, as well as Caucasian (Date et al., Tissue Antigens 47: 93-101 (1996); Kondo et al., J Immunol 155: 4307-12 (1995); Kubo et al., J Immunol 152: 3913-24 (1994); Imanishi et al., Proceeding of the eleventh International Histocompatibility Workshop and Conference Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1065 (1992); Williams et al., Tissue Antigen 49: 129 (1997)). Thus, antigenic peptides of cancers presented by these HLAs may be especially useful for the treatment of cancers among Japanese and Caucasian. Further, it is known that the induction of low-affinity CTL in vitro usually results from the use of peptide at a high concentration, generating a high level of specific peptide/MHC complexes on antigen presenting cells (APCs), which will effectively activate these CTL (Alexander-Miller et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93: 4102-7 (1996)).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To disclose the mechanism of prostate cancer and identify novel diagnostic markers and/or drug targets for the treatment of these tumors, the present inventors analyzed the expression profiles of genes in prostate cancer using a genome-wide cDNA microarray combined with laser microbeam microdissection. From the pharmacological point of view, suppressing oncogenic signals is easier in practice than activating tumor-suppressive effects. Thus, the present inventors searched for genes that are over-expressed in prostate cancer cells.

As a result, two genes, PCOTH and MICAL2-PV, specifically over-expressed in prostate cancer cells were identified. Furthermore, reduction of PCOTH (prostate collagen triple helix) or MICAL2-PV (MICAL2 (Molecule Interacting with CasL 2) prostate cancer-variants) expression by transfection of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells.

PCOTH encodes a 100-amino acid protein comprising a collagen triple helix repeat and its exogenous product was localized in the cell membrane. According to a Northern blot analysis, the expression of PCOTH was shown to be restricted to testis and prostate.

Furthermore, the expression of MICAL2-PV was also shown to be restricted to testis. The protein encoded by MICAL2-PV comprises a domain having homology to calponin domain, an actin-binding domain which is present in duplicate at the N-terminus of spectrin-like proteins including dystrophin and α-actinin. Thus, the protein encoded by MICAL2-PV is predicted to interact with actin or other microtubles. These domains cross-link actin filaments into bundles and networks. The other family member, MICAL1, is reported to be associated with vimentin (Suzuki et al., J Biol Chem 277: 14933-41 (2002)) and rab1 (Weide et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun 306: 79-86 (2003)) that are major components of intermediated filaments and cytoskelton functioning as scaffold proteins connecting different components in the cell. MICAL2-PV protein is expected to be involved in the construction of cytoskelton and cell morphology in prostate cancer cells.

Many anticancer drugs are not only toxic to cancer cells but also for normally growing cells. However, agents suppressing the expression of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH may not adversely affect other organs due to the fact that normal expression of MICAL2-P V is restricted to testis and PCOTH is restricted to testis and prostate, and thus may be of great importance for treating or preventing prostate cancer.

Thus, the present invention provides isolated genes, MICAL2-PV and PCOTH, which serve as candidates of diagnostic markers for prostate cancer as well as promising potential targets for developing new strategies for diagnosis and effective anti-cancer agents. Furthermore, the present invention provides polypeptides encoded by these genes, as well as the production and the use of the same. More specifically, the present invention provides the following:

The present application provides novel human polypeptides, MICAL2-PV and PCOTH, or a functional equivalent thereof, which expressions are elevated in prostate cancer cells.

In a preferred embodiment, the MICAL2-PV polypeptide includes a putative 976 amino acid protein encoded by the open reading frame of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a putative 955 amino acid protein encoded by the open reading frame of SEQ IN NO: 5. The MICAL2-PV polypeptide preferably includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6. The present application also provides an isolated protein encoded from at least a portion of the MICAL2-PV polynucleotide sequence, or polynucleotide sequences at least 15% and more preferably at least 25% complementary to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5.

On the other hand, in a preferred embodiment, the PCOTH polypeptide consists of a putative 100 amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 (GenBank Accession No. AB113650). PCOTH is encoded by the open reading frame of SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprises a collagen triple helix repeat (FIG. 1(C)). The present application also provides an isolated protein encoded from at least a portion of the PCOTH polynucleotide sequence, or polynucleotide sequences at least 30% and more preferably at least 40% complementary to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 (LOC221179(XP_(—)167955)).

The present invention further provides a novel human gene MICAL2-PV whose expressions is markedly elevated in a great majority of prostate cancers as compared to corresponding non-cancerous prostate duct epithelium. The isolated MICAL2-PV gene includes a polynucleotide sequence as described in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5. In particular, the MICAL2-PV cDNA includes 6805 nucleotides that contain an open reading frame of 2928 nucleotides (SEQ ID NO: 3) or 6742 nucleotides that contain an open reading frame of 2865 nucleotides (SEQ ID NO: 5). The present invention further encompasses polynucleotides which hybridize to and which are at least 30% and more preferably at least 40% complementary to the polynucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5, to the extent that they encode a MICAL2-PV protein or a functional equivalent thereof. Examples of such polynucleotides are degenerates and allelic mutants of MICAL2-PV encoded by the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding the novel human protein PCOTH, whose expression is also markedly elevated in a great majority of prostate cancers as compared to corresponding non-cancerous prostate duct epithelium. The isolated polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide consisting of 100 amino acids described in SEQ ID NO: 2. More specifically, the isolated polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 from the 332 to the 631 nucleotide. The present invention further encompasses polynucleotides which hybridize to and which are at least 30%, and more preferably at least 40% complementary to the polynucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, to the extent that they encode a PCTOH protein or a functional equivalent thereof. Examples of such polynucleotides are degenerates and allelic mutants of SEQ ID NO: 1.

As used herein, an isolated gene is a polynucleotide the structure of which is not identical to that of any naturally occurring polynucleotide or to that of any fragment of a naturally occurring genomic polynucleotide spanning more than three separate genes. The term therefore includes, for example, (a) a DNA which has the sequence of part of a naturally occurring genomic DNA molecule in the genome of the organism in which it naturally occurs; (b) a polynucleotide incorporated into a vector or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote in a manner such that the resulting molecule is not identical to any naturally occurring vector or genomic DNA; (c) a separate molecule such as a cDNA, a genomic fragment, a fragment produced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or a restriction fragment; and (d) a recombinant nucleotide sequence that is part of a hybrid gene, i.e., a gene encoding a fusion polypeptide.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide described herein or a fragment thereof. Preferably, the isolated polypeptide includes a nucleotide sequence that is at least 60% identical to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5. More preferably, the isolated nucleic acid molecule is at least 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%,98%, 99% or more, identical to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5. In the case of an isolated polynucleotide which is longer than or equivalent in length to the reference sequence, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, the comparison is made with the full length of the reference sequence. Where the isolated polynucleotide is shorter than the reference sequence, e.g., shorter than SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, the comparison is made to segment of the reference sequence of the same length (excluding any loop required by the homology calculation).

The present invention also provides a method of producing a protein by transfecting or transforming a host cell with a polynucleotide sequence encoding the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein, and expressing the polynucleotide sequence. In addition, the present invention provides vectors comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein, and host cells harboring a polynucleotide encoding the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein. Such vectors and host cells may be used for producing the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein.

An antibody that recognizes the MICAL2-PV protein is also provided by the present application. In part, an antisense polynucleotide (e.g., antisense DNA), ribozyme, and siRNA (small interfering RNA) of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene is also provided.

The present invention further provides a method for diagnosis of prostate cancer which includes the step of determining an expression level of the gene in a biological sample from a subject, comparing the expression level of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene with that in a normal sample, and defining that a high expression level of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene in the sample indicates that the subject suffers from or is at risk of developing prostate cancer.

Further, a method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer is provided by the present invention. The method includes contacting the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide with test compounds, and selecting test compounds that bind to or that alter the biological activity of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide.

The present invention further provides a method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer, wherein the method includes contacting a test compound with a cell expressing the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide or introduced with a vector comprising the transcriptional regulatory region of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH upstream of a reporter gene, and selecting the test compound that suppresses the expression level of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer, wherein the method includes contacting MICAL2-PV and actin in the presence of a test compound, and selecting the test compound that inhibits the binding of MICAL2-PV and actin.

The present application also provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing prostate cancer. The pharmaceutical composition may be, for example, an anti-cancer agent. The pharmaceutical composition can be described as at least a portion of the antisense S-oligonucleotides, siRNA or ribozyme against the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polynucleotide sequence shown and described in SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 5, or 1, respectively. A suitable siRNA targets a sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 27. The target sequence of MICAL2-PV siRNA comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27, and that of PCOTH siRNA comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23. Both may be preferably selected as targets for treating or preventing prostate cancer according to the present invention. The pharmaceutical compositions may be also those comprising the compounds selected by the present methods of screening for compounds for treating or preventing cell proliferative diseases such as prostate cancer.

The course of action of the pharmaceutical composition is desirably to inhibit growth of the cancerous cells such as prostate cancer cells. The pharmaceutical composition may be applied to mammals including humans and domesticated mammals.

The present invention further provides methods for treating or preventing prostate cancer using the pharmaceutical composition provided by the present invention.

In addition, the present invention provides method for treating or preventing cancer, which method comprises the step of administering the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide. It is expected that anti tumor immunity be induced by the administration of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide. Thus, the present invention also provides method for inducing anti tumor immunity, which method comprises the step of administering the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide, as well as pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing cancer comprising the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are of a preferred embodiment, and not restrictive of the invention or other alternate embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(A) depicts photographs showing the result of validation of over-expression of D4493 (PCOTH) in prostate cancer cells by RT-PCR. The microdissected normal prostate duct epithelial cells (N) and prostate cancer cells (T) from the same individual were compared by semiquantitative RT-PCR. ACTB was used for normalization of the results. (B) depicts photographs showing the result of Northern blot analysis of normal human multiple tissues. High and localized expression in testis and prostate and minor expression in heart and bone marrow were detected. (C) depicts the amino acid sequence of D4493 (PCOTH) product. The product consists of 100 amino acids and has collagen triple helix repeats which is characterized by the G-X-X motif repeat. G is glycine and X is preferrably proline.

FIG. 2(A) depicts photographs showing the result of validation of over-expression of A5736 (MICAL2-PV) in prostate cancer cells by RT-PCR. The microdissected normal prostate duct epithelial cells (N) and prostate cancer cells (T) from the same individual were compared by semiquantitative RT-PCR. ACTB was used for normalization of the results. (B) depicts photographs showing the result of Northern blot analysis of normal human multiple tissues and prostate cancer cell lines. The approximately 7 kb transcript corresponding to MICAL2-PV was highly expressed in testis and prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC3 and DU145), while the approximately 4 kb transcript corresponding to the original MICAL2 was expressed in heart, brain and liver, but not in prostate cancer cell lines. (C) depicts an illustration showing the alignment of the exons of MICAL2 (KIAA0750) and MICAL2-PV. MICAL2 (KIAA0750) is a 3.8 kb transcript and consists of 28 exons, while MICAL2-PV is a 6.8 kb transcript in which several exons are deleted and consist of the long last exons. MICAL2-PV has two isoforms, long form (Accession number: AB110785) and short form (Accession number: AB110786) wherein one exon is deleted from the long form. The long form is predicted to yield a 976-amino acid protein that is different from the MICAL2 (KIAA0750) protein in its COOH region.

FIG. 3 depicts photographs showing the sublocalization of exogenous PCOTH protein (A) and MICAL2-PV protein (B) in COS7 cells. Exogenous PCOTH protein was localized in the cell membrane, while exogenous MICAL2-PV protein was localized in the cytoplasm of COS7 cells.

FIG. 4(A) depicts photographs showing the effect of knocking-down PCOTH in prostate cancer cell line using siRNA. Several U6-promoter-siRNA constructs (sil-4 targeting PCOTH and one targeting EGFP) were transfected to PC3. The result of RT-PCR demonstrated that a drastic effect is achieved by knocking-down PCOTH in PC3 cells transfected with si3. (B) depicts a photograph showing the result of colony formation assay in PC3 after the transfection with U6-promoter-siRNA constructs. The number of colonies was concordant with the knocking-down effect of si3 on PCOTH. (C) depicts the result of MTT assay in three prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145 and PC3) after knocking-down PCOTH with siRNA. The cell growth of cells was also concordant with the knocking-down effect of si3 on PCOTH. (D) depicts photographs showing the effect of knocking-down MICAL2-PV in prostate cancer cell line with siRNA. Several U6-promoter-siRNA constructs (sil-3 targeting MICAL2-PV and one targeting EGFP) were transfected into PC3. The result of RT-PCR showed a drastic effect of knocking-down PCOTH in PC3 cells by the transfection with si2. (E) depicts photographs showing the result of colony formation assay on PC3 after the transfection with U6-promoter-siRNA constructs. The number of colonies was concordant with the knocking-down effect of si2 on MICAL2-PV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The words “a”, “an” and “the” as used herein mean “at least one” unless otherwise specifically indicated.

To disclose the mechanism of prostate cancer and identify novel diagnostic markers and/or drug targets for the treatment of these tumors, the present inventors analyzed the expression profiles of genes in prostate cancer using a genome-wide cDNA microarray combined with laser microbeam microdissection. As a result, two genes, PCOTH and MICAL2-PV, specifically over-expressed in prostate cancer cells were identified. Furthermore, suppression of the expression of PCOTH or MICAL2-PV gene with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) resulted in a significant growth-inhibition of cancerous cells. These findings suggest that PCOTH and MICAL2-PV render oncogenic activities to cancer cells, and that inhibition of the activity of these proteins could be a promising strategy for the treatment and prevention of proliferative diseases such as prostate cancers. MICAL2-PV

According to the present invention, two genes with a similar sequence were identified and suggested to encode variants of MICAL2 that consist of 1124 amino acid residues. The expression of the two genes was markedly elevated in prostate cancer compared to corresponding non-cancerous tissues. The coding region of the 3′ terminus of the identified variants differed from that of MICAL2. Thus, these two novel human genes were collectively dubbed “MICAL2 prostate cancer-variants (MICAL2-PV)”. The cDNA of the longer variant consists of 6805 nucleotides containing an open reading frame of 2928 nucleotides (SEQ ID NO: 3) and the shorter variant consists of 6742 nucleotides containing an open reading frame of 2865 nucleotides (SEQ ID NO: 5). These open reading frames encode a putative 976 amino acid-protein and a putative 955 amino acid-protein, respectively. The protein encoded by MICAL2-PV comprises a domain having homology to calponin domain, an actin-binding domain which is present in duplicate at the N-terminus of spectrin-like proteins including dystrophin and a-actinin. Therefore, the protein encoded by MICAL2-PV is predicted to interact with actin or other microtubles. These domains cross-link actin filaments into bundles and networks.

Thus, the present invention provides substantially pure polypeptides encoded by these genes including polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6, as well as functional equivalents thereof, to the extent that they encode a MICAL2-PV protein. Examples of polypeptides functionally equivalent to MICAL2-PV include, for example, homologous proteins of other organisms corresponding to the human MICAL2-PV protein, as well as mutants of human MICAL2-PV proteins.

In the present invention, the term “functionally equivalent” means that the subject polypeptide has the activity to promote cell proliferation like the MICAL2-PV protein and to confer oncogenic activity to cancer cells. Whether the subject polypeptide has a cell proliferation activity or not can be judged by introducing the DNA encoding the subject polypeptide into a cell expressing the respective polypeptide and detecting promotion of proliferation of the cells or increase in colony forming activity. Such cells include, for example, LNCaP, PC3 and DU145. Alternatively, whether the subject polypeptide is functionally equivalent to MICAL2-PV may be judged by detecting its binding ability to actin.

Methods for preparing polypeptides functionally equivalent to a given protein are well known by a person skilled in the art and include known methods of introducing mutations into the protein. For example, one skilled in the art can prepare polypeptides functionally equivalent to the human MICAL2-PV protein by introducing an appropriate mutation in the amino acid sequence of either of these proteins by site-directed mutagenesis (Hashimoto-Gotoh et al., Gene 152:271-5 (1995); Zoller and Smith, Methods Enzymol 100: 468-500 (1983); Kramer et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:9441-9456 (1984); Kramer and Fritz, Methods Enzymol 154: 350-67 (1987); Kunkel, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82: 488-92 (1985); Kunkel, Methods Enzymol 85: 2763-6 (1988)). Amino acid mutations can occur in nature, too. The polypeptide of the present invention includes those proteins having the amino acid sequences of the human MICAL2-PV protein in which one or more amino acids are mutated, provided the resulting mutated polypeptides are functionally equivalent to the human MICAL2-PV protein. The number of amino acids to be mutated in such a mutant is generally 10 amino acids or less, preferably 6 amino acids or less, and more preferably 3 amino acids or less.

Mutated or modified proteins, proteins having amino acid sequences modified by substituting, deleting, inserting and/or adding one or more amino acid residues of a certain amino acid sequence, have been known to retain the original biological activity (Mark et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81: 5662-6 (1984); Zoller and Smith, Nucleic Acids Res 10:6487-500 (1982); Dalbadie-McFarland et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 79: 6409-13 (1982)).

The amino acid residue to be mutated is preferably mutated into a different amino acid in which the properties of the amino acid side-chain are conserved (a process known as conservative amino acid substitution). Examples of properties of amino acid side chains are hydrophobic amino acids (A, I, L, M, F, P, W, Y, V), hydrophilic amino acids (R, D, N, C, E, Q, C H, K, S, T), and side chains having the following functional groups or characteristics in common: an aliphatic side-chain (G, A, V, L, I, P); a hydroxyl group containing side-chain (S, T, Y); a sulfur atom containing side-chain (C, M); a carboxylic acid and amide containing side-chain (D, N, E, Q); a base containing side-chain (R, K, H); and an aromatic containing side-chain (H, F, Y, W). Note, the parenthetic letters indicate the one-letter codes of amino acids.

An example of a polypeptide to which one or more amino acids residues are added to the amino acid sequence of human MICAL2-PV protein is a fusion protein containing the human MICAL2-PV protein. Fusion proteins are, fusions of the human MICAL2-PV protein and other peptides or proteins, and are included in the present invention. Fusion proteins can be made by techniques well known to a person skilled in the art, such as by linking the DNA encoding the human MICAL2-PV protein of the invention with DNA encoding other peptides or proteins, so that the frames match, inserting the fusion DNA into an expression vector and expressing it in a host. , There is no restriction as to the peptides or proteins fused to the protein of the present invention.

Known peptides that can be used as peptides that are fused to the protein of the present invention include, for example, FLAG (Hopp et al., Biotechnology 6: 1204-10 (1988)), 6×His containing six His (histidine) residues, 10×His, Influenza agglutinin (HA), human c-myc fragment, VSP-GP fragment, p18HIV fragment, T7-tag, HSV-tag, E-tag, SV40T antigen fragment, lck tag, α-tubulin fragment, B-tag, Protein C fragment and the like. Examples of proteins that may be fused to a protein of the invention include GST (glutathione-S-transferase), Influenza agglutinin (HA), immunoglobulin constant region, β-galactosidase, MBP (maltose-binding protein) and such.

Fusion proteins can be prepared by fusing commercially available DNA, encoding the fusion peptides or proteins discussed above, with the DNA encoding the polypeptide of the present invention and expressing the fused DNA prepared.

An alternative method known in the art to isolate functionally equivalent polypeptides is, for example, the method using a hybridization technique (Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning 2nd ed. 9.47-9.58, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press (1989)). One skilled in the art can readily isolate a DNA having high homology with a whole or part of the DNA sequence encoding the human MICAL2-PV protein (i.e., SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5), and isolate functionally equivalent polypeptides to the human MICAL2-PV protein from the isolated DNA. The polypeptides of the present invention include those that are encoded by DNA that hybridize with a whole or part of the DNA sequence encoding the human MICAL2-PV protein and are functionally equivalent to the human MICAL2-PV protein. These polypeptides include mammal homologues corresponding to the protein derived from human (for example, a polypeptide encoded by a monkey, rat, rabbit and bovine gene). In isolating a cDNA highly homologous to the DNA encoding the human MICAL2-PV protein from animals, it is particularly preferable to use tissues from testis. The condition of hybridization for isolating a DNA encoding a polypeptide functionally equivalent to the human MICAL2-PV protein can be routinely selected by a person skilled in the art. For example, hybridization may be performed by conducting prehybridization at 68° C. for 30 min or longer using “Rapid-hyb buffer” (Amersham LIFE SCIENCE), adding a labeled probe, and warming at 68° C. for 1 hour or longer. The following washing step can be conducted, for example, in a low stringent condition. A low stringent condition is, for example, 42° C., 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS, or preferably 50° C., 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS. More preferably, high stringent conditions are used. Ahigh stringent condition is, for example, washing 3 times in 2×SSC, 0.01% SDS at room temperature for 20 min, then washing 3 times in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 37° C. for 20 min, and washing twice in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50° C. for 20 min. However, several factors, such as temperature and salt concentration, can influence the stringency of hybridization and one skilled in the art can suitably select the factors to achieve the requisite stringency.

In place of hybridization, a gene amplification method, for example, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, can be utilized to isolate a DNA encoding a polypeptide functionally equivalent to the human MICAL2-PV protein, using a primer synthesized based on the sequence information of the protein encoding DNA (SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5).

Polypeptides that are functionally equivalent to the human MICAL2-PV protein encoded by the DNA isolated through the above hybridization techniques or gene so amplification techniques normally have a high homology to the amino acid sequence of the human MICAL2-PV protein. “High homology” typically refers to a homology of 40% or higher, preferably 60% or higher, more preferably 80% or higher, even more preferably 95% or higher. The homology of a polypeptide can be determined by following the algorithm in “Wilbur and Lipman, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80: 726-30 (1983)”. A polypeptide of the present invention may have variations in amino acid sequence, molecular weight, isoelectric point, the presence or absence of sugar chains, or form, depending on the cell or host used to produce it or the purification method utilized. Nevertheless, so long as it has a function equivalent to that of the human MICAL2-PV protein of the present invention, it is within the scope of the present invention.

The polypeptides of the present invention can be prepared as recombinant proteins or natural proteins, by methods well known to those skilled in the art. A recombinant protein can be prepared by inserting a DNA, which encodes the polypeptide of the present invention (for example, the DNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5), into an appropriate expression vector, introducing the vector into an appropriate host cell, obtaining the extract, and purifying the polypeptide by subjecting the extract to chromatography, e.g., ion exchange chromatography, reverse phase chromatography, gel filtration or affinity chromatography utilizing a column to which antibodies against the protein of the present invention is fixed or by combining more than one of aforementioned columns.

Also when the polypeptide of the present invention is expressed within host cells (for example, animal cells and E. coli) as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase protein or as a recombinant protein supplemented with multiple histidines, the expressed recombinant protein can be purified using a glutathione column or nickel column. Alternatively, when the polypeptide of the present invention is expressed as a protein tagged with c-myc, multiple histidines or FLAG, it can be detected and purified using antibodies to c-myc, His or FLAG respectively.

After purifying the fusion protein, it is also possible to exclude regions other than the objective polypeptide by cutting with thrombin or factor-Xa as required.

A natural protein can be isolated by methods known to a person skilled in the art, for example, by contacting the affinity column, in which antibodies binding to the MICAL2-PV protein described below are bound, with the extract of tissues or cells expressing the polypeptide of the present invention. The antibodies can be polyclonal antibodies or monoclonal antibodies.

The present invention also encompasses partial peptides of the polypeptide of the present invention. The partial peptide has an amino acid sequence specific to the polypeptide of the present invention and consists of at least 7 amino acids, preferably 8 amino acids or more, and more preferably 9 amino acids or more. The partial peptide can be used, for example, for preparing antibodies against the polypeptide of the present invention, screening for a compound that binds to the polypeptide of the present invention, and screening for accelerators or inhibitors of the polypeptide of the present invention.

A partial peptide of the invention can be produced by genetic engineering, by known methods of peptide synthesis or by digesting the polypeptide of the invention with an appropriate peptidase. For peptide synthesis, for example, solid phase synthesis or liquid phase synthesis may be used.

The present invention further provides polynucleotides that encode such MICAL2-PV polypeptides described above. The polynucleotides of the present invention can be used for the in vivo or in vitro production of the polypeptide of the present invention as described above, or can be applied to gene therapy for diseases attributed to genetic abnormality in the gene encoding the protein of the present invention. Any form of the polynucleotide of the present invention can be used so long as it encodes the polypeptide of the present invention, including mRNA, RNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, chemically synthesized polynucleotides. The polynucleotide of the present invention include a DNA comprising a given nucleotide sequences as well as its degenerate sequences, so long as the resulting DNA encodes a polypeptide of the present invention.

The polynucleotide of the present invention can be prepared by methods known to a person skilled in the art. For example, the polynucleotide of the present invention can be prepared by: preparing a cDNA library from cells which express the polypeptide of the present invention, and conducting hybridization using a partial sequence of the DNA of the present invention (for example, SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5) as a probe. A cDNA library can be prepared, for example, by the method described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989); alternatively, commercially available cDNA libraries may be used. A cDNA library can be also prepared by: extracting RNAs from cells expressing the polypeptide of the present invention, synthesizing oligo DNAs based on the sequence of the DNA of the present invention (for example, SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5), conducting PCR using the oligo DNAs as primers, and amplifying cDNAs encoding the protein of the present invention.

In addition, by sequencing the nucleotides of the obtained cDNA, the translation region encoded by the cDNA can be routinely determined, and the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide of the present invention can be easily obtained. Moreover, by screening the genomic DNA library using the obtained cDNA or parts thereof as a probe, the genomic DNA can be isolated.

More specifically, mRNAs may first be prepared from a cell, tissue or organ (e.g., testis) in which the object polypeptide of the invention is expressed. Known methods can be used to isolate mRNAs; for instance, total RNA may be prepared by guanidine ultracentrifugation (Chirgwin et al., Biochemistry 18:5294-9 (1979)) or AGPC method (Chomczynski and Sacchi, Anal Biochem 162:156-9 (1987)). In addition, mRNA may be purified from total RNA using mRNA Purification Kit (Pharmacia) and such. Alternatively, mRNA may be directly purified by QuickPrep mRNA Purification Kit (Pharmacia).

The obtained mRNA is used to synthesize cDNA using reverse transcriptase. cDNA may be synthesized using a commercially available kit, such as the AMV Reverse Transcriptase First-strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Seikagaku Kogyo). Alternatively, cDNA may be synthesized and amplified following the 5′-RACE method (Frohman et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85: 8998-9002 (1988); Belyavsky et al., Nucleic Acids Res 17: 2919-32 (1989)), which uses a primer and such, described herein, the 5′-Ampli FINDER RACE Kit (Clontech), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A desired DNA fragment is prepared from the PCR products and ligated with a vector DNA, The recombinant vectors are used to transform E. coli and such, and a desired recombinant vector is prepared from a selected colony. The nucleotide sequence of the desired DNA can be verified by conventional methods, such as dideoxynucleotide chain termination.

The nucleotide sequence of a polynucleotide of the invention may be designed to be expressed more efficiently by taking into account the frequency of codon usage in the host to be used for expression (Grantham et al., Nucleic Acids Res 9: 43-74 (1981)). The sequence of the polynucleotide of the present invention may be altered by a commercially available kit or a conventional method. For instance, the sequence may be altered by digestion with restriction enzymes, insertion of a synthetic oligonucleotide or an appropriate polynucleotide fragment, addition of a linker, or insertion of the initiation codon (ATG) and/or the stop codon (TAA, TGA or TAG).

Specifically, the polynucleotide of the present invention encompasses the DNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions with a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5, and encodes a polypeptide functionally equivalent to the MICAL2-PV protein of the invention described above. One skilled in the art may appropriately choose stringent conditions. For example, low stringent condition can be used. More preferably, high stringent condition can be used. These conditions are the same as that described above. The hybridizing DNA above is preferably a cDNA or a chromosomal DNA.

The present invention also provides a polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotide encoding human MICAL2-PV protein (SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5) or the complementary strand thereof, and which comprises at least 15 nucleotides. The polynucleotide of the present invention is preferably a polynucleotide which specifically hybridizes with the DNA encoding the MICAL2-PV polypeptide of the present invention. The term “specifically hybridize” as used herein, means that cross-hybridization does not occur significantly with DNA encoding other proteins, under the usual hybridizing conditions, preferably under stringent hybridizing conditions. Such polynucleotides include, probes, primers, nucleotides and nucleotide derivatives (for example, antisense oligonucleotides and ribozymes), which specifically hybridize with DNA encoding the polypeptide of the invention or its complementary strand. Moreover, such polynucleotide can be utilized for the preparation of DNA chip.

PCOTH

According to the present invention another gene, PCOTH, was also identified to be specifically over-expressed in prostate cancer cells compared to corresponding non-cancerous tissues. The identified gene was identical with LOC221179 (XP_(—)167955). However, the PCOTH gene was revealed to encode a 100-amino acid protein set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 (GenBank Accession No. AB113650) encoded by the open reading frame consisting of 300 nucleotides shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 which differed from that known for LOC221179 (XP_(—)167955). PCOTH was shown to comprise a collagen triple helix repeat and its exogenous product was localized in the cell membrane (FIG. 1). Therefore, the gene was dubbed “prostate collagen triple helix”.

Thus, the present invention provides substantially pure polypeptides encoded by the gene including polypeptides consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, as well as functional equivalents thereof, to the extent that they encode a PCOTH protein and such functional equivalents are expected to be shorter than the whole amino acid sequence encoded by the known LOC221179 (XP167955). Examples of polypeptides functionally equivalent to PCOTH include, for example, homologous proteins of other organisms corresponding to the human PCOTH protein, as well as mutants of human PCOTH proteins. Preferable mutants of PCOTH protein includes those consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 in which one or more amino acids are substituted and/or deleted.

In the present invention, the term “functionally equivalent” means that the subject polypeptide has the activity to promote cell proliferation like the PCOTH protein and to confer oncogenic activity to cancer cells. Whether the subject polypeptide has a cell proliferation activity or not can be judged by introducing the DNA encoding the subject polypeptide into a cell expressing the respective polypeptide and detecting promotion of proliferation of the cells or increase in colony forming activity. Such cells include, for example, LNCaP, PC3 and DU145.

The same methods as those described in the item of “MICAL2-PV” above can be employed for preparing the PCOTH protein and functional equivalents thereof using sequence information described in SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2.

The present invention further provides polynucleotides that encode such PCOTH polypeptides described above. The polynucleotides of the present invention can be used for the in vivo or in vitro production of the polypeptide of the present invention as described above, or can be applied to gene therapy for diseases attributed to genetic abnormality in the gene encoding the protein of the present invention. Any form of the polynucleotide of the present invention can be used so long as it encodes the polypeptide of the present invention, including mRNA, RNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, chemically synthesized polynucleotides. The polynucleotide of the present invention include a DNA comprising a given nucleotide sequences as well as its degenerate sequences, so long as the resulting DNA encodes a PCOTH polypeptide of the present invention. Such polynucleotides can also be prepared according to method similar to those described under the item of “MICAL2-P V” using sequence information described in SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2.

In contrast to MICAL2-PV, normal expression of PCOTH was detected in testis and also prostate. Thus, for preparing PCOTH or functionally equivalents thereof, or the mRNA of PCOTH, in addition to testis tissues, one can use tissues from prostate.

Vectors and Host Cells

The present invention also provides a vector and host cell into which a polynucleotide of the present invention is introduced. A vector of the present invention is useful to keep a polynucleotide, especially a DNA, of the present invention in host cell, to express the polypeptide of the present invention, or to administer the polynucleotide of the present invention for gene therapy.

When E. coil is a host cell and the vector is amplified and produced in a large amount in E. coil (e.g., JM109, DH5α, HB101 or XL1Blue), the vector should have “ori” to be amplified in E. coil and a marker gene for selecting transformed E. coli (e.g., a drug-resistance gene selected by a drug such as ampicillin, tetracycline, kanamycin, chloramphenicol or the like). For example, M13-series vectors, pUC-series vectors, pBR322, pBluescript, pCR-Script, etc. can be used. In addition, pGEM-T, pDIRECT and pT7 can also be used for subcloning and extracting cDNA as well as the vectors described above. When a vector is used to produce the protein of the present invention, an expression vector is especially useful. For example, an expression vector to be expressed in E. coli should have the above characteristics to be amplified in E. coli. When E. coli, such as JM109, DH5A, HB101 or XL1 Blue, are used as a host cell, the vector should have a promoter, for example, lacZ promoter (Ward et al., Nature 341: 544-6 (1989); FASEB J 6: 2422-7 (1992)), araB promoter (Better et al., Science 240: 1041-3 (1988)), T7 promoter or the like, that can efficiently express the desired gene in E. coli. In that respect, pGEX-5X-I (Pharmacia), “QIAexpress system” (Qiagen), pEGFP and pET (in this case, the host is preferably BL21 which expresses T7 RNA polymerase), for example, can be used instead of the above vectors. Additionally, the vector may also contain a signal sequence for polypeptide secretion. An exemplary signal sequence that directs the polypeptide to be secreted to the periplasm of the E. coli is the pelB signal sequence (Lei et al., J Bacteriol 169: 4379 (1987)). Means for introducing of the vectors into the target host cells include, for example, the calcium chloride method, and the electroporation method.

In addition to E. coli, for example, expression vectors derived from mammals (for example, pcDNA3 (Invitrogen) and pEGF-BOS (Nucleic Acids Res 18(17): 5322 (1990)), pEF, pCDM8), expression vectors derived from insect cells (for example, “Bac-to-BAC baculovirus expression system” (GIBCO BRL), pBacPAK8), expression vectors derived from plants (e.g., pMH1, pMH2), expression vectors derived from animal viruses (e.g., pHSV, pMV, pAdexLcw), expression vectors derived from retroviruses (e.g., pZlpneo), expression vector derived from yeast (e.g., “Pichia Expression Kit” (Invitrogen), pNV11, SP-Q01) and expression vectors derived from Bacillus subtilis (e.g., pPL608, pKTH50) can be used for producing the polypeptide of the present invention.

In order to express the vector in animal cells, such as CHO, COS or NIH3T3 cells, the vector should have a promoter necessary for expression in such cells, for example, the SV40 promoter (Mulligan et al., Nature 277:,108 (1979)), the MMLV-LTR promoter, the EF1α promoter (Mizushima et al., Nucleic Acids Res 18: 5322 (1990)), the CMV promoter and the like, and preferably a marker gene for selecting transformants (for example, a drug resistance gene selected by a drug (e.g., neomycin, G418)). Examples of known vectors with these characteristics include, for example, pMAM, pDR2, pBK-RSV, pBK-CMV, pOPRSV and pOP13.

Producing Polypeptides

In addition, the present invention provides methods for producing a polypeptide of the present invention. The polypeptides may be prepared by culturing a host cell which harbors a expression vector comprising a gene encoding the polypeptide. According to needs, methods may be used to express a gene stably and, at the same time, to amplify the copy number of the gene in cells. For example, a vector comprising the complementary DHFR gene (e.g., pCHO I) may be introduced into CHO cells in which the nucleic acid synthesizing pathway is deleted, and then amplified by methotrexate (MTX). Furthermore, in case of transient expression of a gene, the method wherein a vector comprising a replication origin of SV40 (pcD, etc.) is transformed into COS cells comprising the SV40 T antigen expressing gene on the chromosome can be used.

A polypeptide of the present invention obtained as above may be isolated from inside or outside (such as medium) of host cells and purified as a substantially pure homogeneous polypeptide. The term “substantially pure” as used herein in reference to a given polypeptide means that the polypeptide is substantially free from other biological macromolecules. The substantially pure polypeptide is at least 75% (e.g., at least 80, 85, 95, or 99%) pure by dry weight. Purity can be measured by any appropriate standard method, for example by column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or HPLC analysis. The method for polypeptide isolation and purification is not limited to any specific method; in fact, any standard method may be used.

For instance, column chromatography, filter, ultrafiltration, salt precipitation, solvent precipitation, solvent extraction, distillation, immunoprecipitation, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric point electrophoresis, dialysis, and recrystallization may be appropriately selected and combined to isolate and purify the polypeptide.

Examples of chromatography include, for example, affinity chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel filtration, reverse phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography, and such (Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization: A Laboratory Course Manual. Ed. Daniel R. Marshak et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1996)). These chromatographies may be performed by liquid chromatography, such as HPLC and FPLC. Thus, the present invention provides for highly purified-polypeptides prepared by the above methods.

A polypeptide of the present invention may be optionally modified or partially deleted by treating it with an appropriate protein modification enzyme before or after purification. Useful protein modification enzymes include, but are not limited to, trypsin, chymotrypsin, lysylendopeptidase, protein kinase, glucosidase and so on.

Antibodies

The present invention provides an antibody that binds to the polypeptide of the invention. The antibody of the invention can be used in any form, such as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, and includes antiserum obtained by immunizing an animal such as a rabbit with the polypeptide of the invention, all classes of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, human antibodies and humanized antibodies produced by genetic recombination.

A polypeptide of the invention used as an antigen to obtain an antibody may be derived from any animal species, but preferably is derived from a mammal such as a human, mouse, or rat, more preferably from a human. A human-derived polypeptide may be obtained from the nucleotide or amino acid sequences disclosed herein. According to the present invention, the polypeptide to be used as an immunization antigen may be a complete protein or a partial peptide of the protein. A partial peptide may comprise, for example, the amino (N)-terminal or carboxy (C)-terminal fragment of a polypeptide of the present invention.

Herein, an antibody is defined as a protein that reacts with either the full length or a fragment of a polypeptide of the present invention.

A gene encoding a polypeptide of the invention or its fragment may be inserted into a known expression vector, which is then used to transform a host cell as described herein. The desired polypeptide or its fragment may be recovered from the outside or inside of host cells by any standard method, and may subsequently be used as an antigen. Alternatively, whole cells expressing the polypeptide or their lysates or a chemically synthesized polypeptide may be used as the antigen.

Any mammalian animal may be immunized with the antigen, but preferably the compatibility with parental cells used for cell fusion is taken into account. In general, animals of Rodentia, Lagomorpha or Primates are used. Animals of Rodentia include, for example, mouse, rat and hamster. Animals of Lagomorpha include, for example, rabbit Animals of Primates include, for example, a monkey of Catarrhini (old world monkey) such as Macaca fascicularis, rhesus monkey, sacred baboon and chimpanzees.

Methods for immunizing animals with antigens are known in the art. Intraperitoneal injection or subcutaneous injection of antigens is a standard method for immunization of mammals. More specifically, antigens may be diluted and suspended in an appropriate amount of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), physiological saline, etc. If desired, the antigen suspension may be mixed with an appropriate amount of a standard adjuvant, such as Freund's complete adjuvant, made into emulsion and then administered to mammalian animals. Preferably, it is followed by several administrations of antigen mixed with an appropriately amount of Freund's incomplete adjuvant every 4 to 21 days. An appropriate carrier may also be used for immunization. After immunization as above, serum is examined by a standard method for an increase in the amount of desired antibodies.

Polyclonal antibodies against the polypeptides of the present invention may be prepared by collecting blood from the immunized mammal examined for the increase of desired antibodies in the serum, and by separating serum from the blood by any conventional method. Polyclonal antibodies include serum containing the polyclonal antibodies, as well as the fraction containing the polyclonal antibodies may be isolated from the serum. Immunoglobulin G or M can be prepared from a fraction which recognizes only the polypeptide of the present invention using, for example, an affinity column coupled with the polypeptide of the present invention, and further purifying this fraction using protein A or protein G column.

To prepare monoclonal antibodies, immune cells are collected from the mammal immunized with the antigen and checked for the increased level of desired antibodies in the serum as described above, and are subjected to cell fusion. The immune cells used for cell fusion are preferably obtained from spleen. Other preferred parental cells to be fused with the above immunocyte include, for example, myeloma cells of mammalians, and more preferably myeloma cells having an acquired property for the selection of fused cells by drugs.

The above immunocyte and myeloma cells can be fused according to known methods, for example, the method of Milstein et al. (Galfre and Milstein, Methods Enzymol 73: 3-46 (1981)).

Resulting hybridomas obtained by the cell fusion may be selected by cultivating them in a standard selection medium, such as HAT medium (hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thymidine containing medium). The cell culture is typically continued in the HAT medium for several days to several weeks, the time being sufficient to allow all the other cells, with the exception of the desired hybridoma (non-fused cells), to die. Then, the standard limiting dilution is performed to screen and clone a hybridoma cell producing the desired antibody.

In addition to the above method, in which a non-human animal is immunized with an antigen for preparing hybridoma, human lymphocytes such as those infected by EB virus may be immunized with a polypeptide, polypeptide expressing cells or their lysates in vitro. Then, the immunized lymphocytes are fused with human-derived myeloma cells that are capable of indefinitely dividing, such as U266, to yield a hybridoma producing a desired human antibody that is able to bind to the polypeptide can be obtained (Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application No. (JP-A) Sho 63-17688).

The obtained hybridomas are subsequently transplanted into the abdominal cavity of a mouse and the ascites are extracted. The obtained monoclonal antibodies can be purified by, for example, ammonium sulfate precipitation, a protein A or protein G column, DEAE ion exchange chromatography or an affinity column to which the polypeptide of the present invention is coupled. The antibody of the present invention can be used not only for purification and detection of the polypeptide of the present invention, but also as a candidate for agonists and antagonists of the polypeptide of the present invention. In addition, this antibody can be applied to the antibody treatment for diseases related to the polypeptide of the present invention. When the obtained antibody is to be administered to the human body (antibody treatment), a human antibody or-a humanized antibody is preferable for reducing immunogenicity.

For example, transgenic animals having a repertory of human antibody genes may be immunized with an antigen selected from a polypeptide, polypeptide expressing cells or their lysates. Antibody producing cells are then collected from the animals and fused with myeloma cells to obtain hybridoma, from which human antibodies against the polypeptide can be prepared (see WO92-03918, WO93-2227, WO94-02602, WO94-25585, WO96-33735 and WO96-34096).

Alternatively, an immune cell, such as an immunized lymphocyte, producing antibodies may be immortalized by an oncogene and used for preparing monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies thus obtained can be also recombinantly prepared using genetic engineering techniques (see, for example, Borrebaeck and Larrick, Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies, published in the United Kingdom by MacMillan Publishers LTD (1990)). For example, a DNA encoding an antibody may be cloned from an immune cell, such as a hybridoma or an immunized lymphocyte producing the antibody, inserted into an appropriate vector, and introduced into host cells to prepare a recombinant antibody. The present invention also provides recombinant antibodies prepared as described above.

Furthermore, an antibody of the present invention may be a fragment of an antibody or modified antibody, so long as it binds to one or more of the polypeptides of the invention. For instance, the antibody fragment may be Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv or single chain Fv (scFv), in which Fv fragments from H and L chains are ligated by an appropriate linker (Huston et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA85: 5879-83 (1988)). More specifically, an antibody fragment may be generated by treating an antibody with an enzyme, such as pa pain or pepsin. Alternatively, a gene encoding the antibody fragment may be constructed, inserted into an expression vector and expressed in an appropriate host cell (see, for example, Co et al., J Immunol 152: 2968-76 (1994); Better and Horwitz, Methods Enzymol 178: 476-96 (1989); Pluckthun and Skerra, Methods Enzymol 178: 497-515 (1989); Lamoyi, Methods Enzymol 121: 652-63 (1986); Rousseaux et al., Methods Enzymol 121: 663-9 (1986); Bird and Walker, Trends Biotechnol 9: 132-7 (1991)).

An antibody may be modified by conjugation with a variety of molecules, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). The present invention provides for such modified antibodies. The modified antibody can be obtained by chemically modifying an antibody. These modification methods are conventional in the field.

Alternatively, an antibody of the present invention may be obtained as a chimeric antibody, between a variable region derived from nonhuman antibody and the constant region derived from human antibody, or as a humanized antibody, comprising the complementarity determining region (CDR) derived from nonhuman antibody, the frame work region (FR) derived from human antibody and the constant region. Such antibodies can be prepared according to known technology.

Antibodies obtained as above may be purified to homogeneity. For example, the separation and purification of the antibody can be performed according to separation and purification methods used for general proteins. For example, the antibody may be separated and isolated by the appropriately selected and combined use of column chromatographies, such as affinity chromatography, filter, ultrafiltration, salting-out, dialysis, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing (Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual. Ed Harlow and David Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1988)), but are not limited thereto. A protein A column and protein G column can be used as the affinity column. Exemplary protein A columns to be used include, for example, Hyper D, POROS and Sepharose F. F. (Pharmacia).

Exemplary chromatography, with the exception of affinity includes, for example, ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel filtration, reverse-phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography and the like (Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization: A Laboratory Course Manual. Ed Daniel R. Marshak et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1996)). The chromatographic procedures can be carried out by liquid-phase chromatography, such as HPLC and FPLC.

For example, measurement of absorbance, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and/or immunofluorescence maybe used to measure the antigen binding activity of the antibody of the invention. In ELISA, the antibody of the present invention is immobilized on a plate, a polypeptide of the invention is applied to the plate, and then a sample containing a desired antibody, such as culture supernatant of antibody producing cells or purified antibodies, is applied. Then, a secondary antibody that recognizes the primary antibody and is labeled with an enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase, is applied, and the plate is incubated. Next, after washing, an enzyme substrate, such as p-nitrophenyl phosphate, is added to the plate, and the absorbance is measured to evaluate the antigen binding activity of the sample. A fragment of the polypeptide, such as a C-terminal or N-terminal fragment, may be used as the antigen to evaluate the binding activity of the antibody. BIAcore (Pharmacia) may be used to evaluate the activity of the antibody according to the present invention.

The above methods allow for the detection or measurement of the polypeptide of the invention, by exposing the antibody of the invention to a sample assumed to contain the polypeptide of the invention, and detecting or measuring the immune complex formed by the antibody and the polypeptide.

Because the method of detection or measurement of the polypeptide according to the invention can specifically detect or measure a polypeptide, the method may be useful in a variety of experiments in which the polypeptide is used.

Antisense Polynucleotides, Small Interfering RNAs and Ribozymes

The present invention includes an antisense oligonucleotide that hybridizes with any site within the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5. This antisense oligonucleotide is preferably against at least 15 continuous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5. The above-mentioned antisense oligonucleotide, which contains an initiation codon in the above-mentioned at least 15 continuous nucleotides, is even more preferred.

Derivatives or modified products of antisense oligonucleotides can also be used as antisense oligonucleotides. Examples of such modified products include lower alkyl phosphonate modifications such as methyl-phosphonate-type or ethyl-phosphonate-type, phosphorothioate modifications and phosphoroamidate modifications.

The term “antisense oligonucleotides” as used herein means, not only those in which the nucleotides corresponding to those constituting a specified region of a DNA or mRNA are entirely complementary, but also those having a mismatch of one or more nucleotides, as long as the DNA or mRNA and the antisense oligonucleotide can specifically hybridize with the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5.

Such polynucleotides are contained as those having, in the “at least 15 continuous nucleotide sequence region”, a homology of at least 70% or higher, preferably at 80% or higher, more preferably 90% or higher, even more preferably 95% or higher. The algorithm stated herein can be used to determine the homology. Algorithms known in the art can be used to determine the homology. Furthermore, derivatives or modified products of the antisense-oligonucleotides can also be used as antisense-oligonucleotides in the present invention. Examples of such modified products include lower alkyl phosphonate modifications such as methyl-phosphonate-type or ethyl-phosphonate-type, phosphorothioate modifications and phosphoroamidate modifications.

Such antisense polynucleotides are useful as probes for the isolation or detection of DNA encoding the polypeptide of the invention or as a primer used for amplifications.

The antisense oligonucleotide derivatives of the present invention act upon cells producing the polypeptide of the invention by binding to the DNA or mRNA encoding the polypeptide, inhibiting its transcription or translation, promoting the degradation of the mRNA and inhibiting the expression of the polypeptide of the invention, thereby resulting in the inhibition of the polypeptide's function.

The present invention also includes small interfering RNAs (siRNA) comprising a combination of a sense strand nucleic acid and an antisense strand nucleic acid of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5. More specifically, such siRNA for suppressing the expression of MICAL2-PV include those that target the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27. Alternatively, siRNA for suppressing the expression of PCOTH include those that target the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23.

The term “siRNA” refers to a double stranded RNA molecule which prevents translation of a target mRNA. Standard techniques are used for introducing siRNA into cells, including those wherein DNA is used as the template to transcribe RNA. The siRNA comprises a sense nucleic acid sequence and an anti-sense nucleic acid sequence of the polynucleotide encoding human MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein (SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5). The siRNA is constructed such that a single transcript (double stranded RNA) has both the sense and complementary antisense sequences from the target gene, e.g., a hairpin.

The nucleotide sequence of siRNAs may be designed using an siRNA design computer program available from the Ambion website (http://www.ambion.com/techlib/misc/siRNA_finder.html). Nucleotide sequences for the siRNA are selected by the computer program based on the following protocol:

Selection of siRNA Target, Sites:

-   -   1. Beginning with the AUG start codon of the object transcript,         scan downstream for AA dinucleotide sequences. Record the         occurrence of each AA and the 3′ adjacent 19 nucleotides as         potential siRNA target sites. Tuschl, et al. recommend against         designing siRNA to the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) and         regions near the start codon (within 75 bases) as these may be         richer in regulatory protein binding sites. UTR-binding proteins         and/or translation initiation complexes may interfere with the         binding of the siRNA endonuclease complex.     -   2. Compare the potential target sites to the human genome         database and eliminate from consideration any target sequences         with significant homology to other coding sequences. The         homology search can be performed using BLAST, which can be found         on the NCBI server at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/.     -   3. Select qualifying target sequences for synthesis. At Ambion,         preferably several target sequences can be selected along the         length of the gene for evaluation.

The antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention inhibit the expression of the polypeptide of the invention and is thereby useful for suppressing the biological activity of the polypeptide of the invention. The length of the antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs is at least 10 nucleotides and may be as long as the naturally occurring the transcript. Preferably, the antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs have 19-25 nucleotides. Most preferably, the antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs are less than 75, 50, 25 nucleotides in length.

Also, expression-inhibitors, comprising the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the invention, are useful in the point that they can inhibit the biological activity of the polypeptide of the invention. Therefore, a composition comprising the antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA of the present invention is useful in treating a cell proliferative disease such as prostate cancer.

Furthermore, the present invention provides ribozymes that inhibit the expression of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide of the present invention.

Generally, ribozymes are classified into large ribozymes and small ribozymes. A large ribozyme is known as an enzyme that cleaves the phosphate ester bond of nucleic acids. After the reaction with the large ribozyme, the reacted site consists of a 5′-phosphate and 3′-hydroxyl group. The large ribozyme is further classified into (1) group I intron RNA catalyzing transesterification at the 5′-splice site by guanosine; (2) group II intron RNA catalyzing self-splicing through a two step reaction via lariat structure; and (3) RNA component of the ribonuclease P that cleaves the tRNA precursor at the 5′ site through hydrolysis. On the other hand, small ribozymes have a smaller size (about 40 bp) compared to the large ribozymes and cleave RNAs to generate a 5′-hydroxyl group and a 2′-3′ cyclic phosphate. Hammerhead type ribozymes (Koizumi et al., FEBS LErr 228: 225 (1988)) and hairpin type ribozymes (Buzayan, Nature 323: 349 (1986); Kikuchi and Sasaki, Nucleic Acids Res 19: 6751 (1992)) are included in the small ribozymes. Methods for designing and constructing ribozymes are known in the art (see Koizumi et al., FEBS Lett 228: 225 (1988); Koizumi et al., Nucleic Acids Res 17: 7059 (1989);Kikuchi and Sasaki, Nucleic Acids Res 19: 6751(1992)). Thus, ribozymes inhibiting the expression of the polypeptides of the present invention can also be constructed based on their sequence information (SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5) and these conventional methods.

Ribozymes against MICAL2-P V or PCOTH gene inhibit the expression of over-expressed MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein and is thus useful for suppressing the biological activity of the protein. Therefore, the ribozymes are useful in treating or preventing prostate cancer.

Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

Moreover, the present invention provides a method for diagnosing cell proliferative disease such as prostate cancer using the expression level of the polypeptides of the present invention as a diagnostic marker.

This diagnosing method comprises the steps of: (a) detecting the expression level of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene of the present invention; and (b) relating an elevation of the expression level to prostate cancer.

The expression levels of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene in a biological sample can be estimated by quantifying mRNA corresponding to or protein encoded by the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene. Quantification methods for mRNA are known to those skilled in the art. For example, the levels of mRNAs corresponding to the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene can be estimated by Northern blotting or RT-PCR. Since the full-length nucleotide sequences of the MICAL2-P V or PCOTH genes are shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, anyone skilled in the art can design the nucleotide sequences for probes or primers to quantify the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene.

Also the expression level of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene can be analyzed based on the activity or quantity of protein encoded by the gene. A method for determining the quantity of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein is shown in bellow. For example, immunoassay method is useful for the determination of the proteins in biological materials. Any biological materials can be used as the biological sample for the determination of the protein or it's activity so long as the marker gene (MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene) is expressed in the sample of a prostate cancer patient. For example, prostate duct epithelium can be mentioned as such biological sample. However, bodily fluids such as blood and urine may be also analyzed. On the other hand, a suitable method can be selected for the determination of the activity of a protein encoded by the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene according to the activity of each protein to be analyzed.

Expression levels of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene in a biological sample are estimated and compared with those in a normal sample (sample derived from a non-diseased subject). When such a comparison shows that the expression level of the target gene is higher than those in the normal sample, the subject is judged to be affected with prostate cancer. The expression level of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene in the biological samples from a normal subject and subject to be diagnosed may be determined at the same time. Alternatively, normal ranges of the expression levels can be determined by a statistical method based on the results obtained by analyzing the expression level of the gene in samples previously collected from a control group. A result obtained by comparing the sample of a subject is compared with the normal range; when the result does not fall within the normal range, the subject is judged to be affected with or is at risk of developing prostate cancer.

In the present invention, a diagnostic agent for diagnosing cell proliferative disease, such as prostate cancer, is also provided. The diagnostic agent of the present invention comprises a compound that binds to a polynucleotide or a polypeptide of the present invention. Preferably, an oligonucleotide that hybridizes to the polynucleotide of the present invention or an antibody that binds to the polypeptide of the present invention may be used as such a compound.

The present method of diagnosing prostate cancer may be applied for assessing the efficacy of treatment of prostate cancer in a subject. According to the method, a biological sample, such as a test cell population, is obtained from a subject undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. The method for assessment can be conducted according to conventional methods of diagnosing prostate cancer.

If desired, biological samples are obtained from the subject at various time points before, during or after the treatment. The expression level of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene, in the biological sample is then determined and compared to a control level derived, for example, from a reference cell population which includes cells whose state of prostate cancer (i.e., cancerous cell or non-cancerous cell) is known. The control level is determined in a biological sample that has not been exposed to the treatment.

If the control level is derived from a biological sample which contains no cancerous cell, a similarity between the expression level in the subject-derived biological sample and the control level indicates that the treatment is efficacious. A difference between the expression level of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene in the subject-derived biological sample and the control level indicates a less favorable clinical outcome or prognosis.

The term “efficacious” refers that the treatment leads to a reduction in the expression of a pathologically up-regulated gene (MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene) or a decrease in size, prevalence or proliferating potential of prostate cancer cells in a subject. When a treatment is applied prophylactically, “efficacious” indicates that the treatment retards or prevents occurrence of prostate cancer. The assessment of prostate cancer can be made using standard clinical protocols. Furthermore, the efficaciousness of a treatment is determined in association with any known method for diagnosing or treating prostate cancer.

Moreover, the present method of diagnosing prostate cancer may also be applied for assessing the prognosis of a subject with prostate cancer by comparing the expression level of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene in a patient-derived biological sample, such as test cell population, to a control level. Alternatively, the expression level of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene in a biological sample derived from patients may be measured over a spectrum of disease stages to assess the prognosis of the patient.

An increase in the expression level of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene compared to a normal control level indicates less favorable prognosis. A decrease in the expression level of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene indicates a more favorable prognosis for the patient.

Screening Compounds

Using the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene, proteins encoded by the gene or transcriptional regulatory region of the gene, compounds can be screened that alter the expression of the gene or the biological activity of a polypeptide encoded by the gene. Such compounds are expected to serve as pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing prostate cancer.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer using the polypeptide of the present invention. An embodiment of this screening method comprises the steps of: (a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide of the present invention; (b) detecting the binding activity between the polypeptide of the present invention and the test compound; and (c) selecting the compound that binds to the polypeptide of the present invention.

The polypeptide of the present invention to be used for screening may be a recombinant polypeptide or a protein derived from the nature or a partial peptide thereof. The polypeptide of the present invention to be contacted with a test compound can be, for example, a purified polypeptide, a soluble protein, a form bound to a carrier or a fusion protein fused with other polypeptides.

As a method of screening for proteins, for example, that bind to the polypeptide of the present invention using the polypeptide of the present invention, many methods well known by a person skilled in the art can be used. Such a screening can be conducted by, for example, immunoprecipitation method, specifically, in the following manner. The gene encoding the polypeptide of the present invention is expressed in animal cells and so on by inserting the gene to an expression vector for foreign genes, such as pSV2neo, pcDNA I, pcDNA3.1, pCAGGS and pCD8. The promoter to be used for the expression may be any promoter that can be used commonly and include, for example, the SV40 early promoter (Rigby in Williamson (ed.), Genetic Engineering, vol. 3. Academic Press, London, 83-141 (1982)), the EF-α promoter (Kim et al., Gene 91: 217-23 (1990)), the CAG promoter (Niwa et al., Gene 108: 193-200 (1991)), the RSV LTR promoter (Cullen, Methods in Enzymology 152: 684-704 (1987)) the SRα promoter (Takebe et al., Mol Cell Biol 8: 466 (1988)), the CMV immediate early promoter (Seed and Aruffo, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84: 3365-9 (1987)), the SV40 late promoter (Gheysen and Fiers, J Mol Appl Genet 1: 385-94 (1982)), the Adenovirus late promoter (Kaufman et al., Mol Cell Biol 9: 946 (1989)), the HSV TK promoter and so on. The introduction of the gene into animal cells to express a foreign gene can be performed according to any methods, for example, the electroporation method (Chu et al., Nucleic Acids Res 15: 1311-26 (1987)), the calcium phosphate method (Chen and Okayama, Mol Cell Biol 7: 2745-52 (1987)), the DEAE dextran method (Lopata et al., Nucleic Acids Res 12: 5707-17 (1984); Sussman and Milman, Mol Cell Biol 4: 1642-3 (1985)), the Lipofectin method (Derijard, B Cell 7: 1025-37 (1994); Lamb et al., Nature Genetics 5: 22-30 (1993): Rabindran et al., Science 259: 230-4 (1993)) and so on. The polypeptide of the present invention can be expressed as a fusion protein comprising a recognition site (epitope) of a monoclonal antibody by introducing the epitope of the monoclonal antibody, whose specificity has been revealed, to the N— or C-terminus of the polypeptide of the present invention. A commercially available epitope-antibody system can be used (Experimental Medicine 13: 85-90 (1995)). Vectors which can express a fusion protein with, for example, β-galactosidase, maltose binding protein, glutathione S-transferase, green florescence protein (GFP) and so on by the use of its multiple cloning sites are commercially available.

A fusion protein prepared by introducing only small epitopes consisting of several to a dozen amino acids so as not to change the property of the polypeptide of the present invention by the fusion is also reported. Epitopes, such as polyhistidine (His-tag), influenza aggregate HA, human c-myc, FLAG Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-GP), T7 gene 10 protein (T7-tag), human simple herpes virus glycoprotein (HSV-tag), E-tag (an epitope on monoclonal phage) and such, and monoclonal antibodies recognizing them can be used as the epitope-antibody system for screening proteins binding to the polypeptide of the present invention (Experimental Medicine 13: 85-90 (1995)).

In immunoprecipitation, an immune complex is formed by adding these antibodies to cell lysate prepared using an appropriate detergent. The immune complex consists of the polypeptide of the present invention, a polypeptide comprising the binding ability with the polypeptide, and an antibody. Immunoprecipitation can be also conducted using antibodies against the polypeptide of the present invention, besides using antibodies against the above epitopes, which antibodies can be prepared as described above.

An immune complex can be precipitated, for example by Protein A sepharose or Protein G sepharose when the antibody is a mouse IgG antibody. If the polypeptide of the present invention is prepared as a fusion protein with an epitope, such as GST, an immune complex can be formed in the same manner as in the use of the antibody against the polypeptide of the present invention, using a substance specifically binding to these epitopes, such as glutathione-Sepharose 4B.

Immunoprecipitation can be performed by following or according to, for example, the methods in the literature (Harlow and Lane, Antibodies, 511-52, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory publications, New York (1988)).

SDS-PAGE is commonly used for analysis of immunoprecipitated proteins and the bound protein can be analyzed by the molecular weight of the protein using gels with an appropriate concentration. Since the protein bound to the polypeptide of the present invention is difficult to detect by a common staining method, such as Coomassie staining or silver staining, the detection sensitivity for the protein can be improved by culturing cells in culture medium containing radioactive isotope, ³⁵S-methionine or ³⁵S-cystein, labeling proteins in the cells, and detecting the proteins. The target protein can be purified directly from the SDS-polyacrylamide gel and its sequence can be determined, when the molecular weight of a protein has been revealed.

As a method for screening proteins binding to the polypeptide of the present invention using the polypeptide, for example, West-Western blotting analysis (Skolnik et al., Cell 65: 83-90 (1991)) can be used. Specifically, a protein binding to the polypeptide of the present invention can be obtained by preparing a cDNA library from cells, tissues, organs (for example, tissues such as testis for MICAL2-PV, and testis or prostate for PCOTH), or cultured cells (e.g., LNCaP, PC3, DU145) expected to express a protein binding to the polypeptide of the present invention using a phage vector (e.g., ZAP), expressing the protein on LB-agarose, fixing the protein expressed on a filter, reacting the purified and labeled polypeptide of the present invention with the above filter, and detecting the plaques expressing proteins bound to the polypeptide of the present invention according to the label. The polypeptide of the invention may be labeled by utilizing the binding between biotin and avidin, or by utilizing an antibody that specifically binds to the polypeptide of the present invention, or a peptide or polypeptide (for example, GST) that is fused to the polypeptide of the present invention. Methods using radioisotope or fluorescence arid such may be also used.

Alternatively, in another embodiment of the screening method of the present invention, a two-hybrid system utilizing cells may be used (“MATCHMAKER Two-Hybrid system”, “Mammalian MATCHMAKER Two-Hybrid Assay Kit”, “MATCHMAKER one-Hybrid system” (Clontech); “HybriZAP Two-Hybrid Vector System” (Stratagene); the references “Dalton and Treisman, Cell 68: 597-612 (1992)”, “Fields and Sternglanz, Trends Genet 10: 286-92 (1994)”).

In the two-hybrid system, the polypeptide of the invention is fused to the SRF-binding region or GAL4-binding region and expressed in yeast cells. A cDNA library is prepared from cells expected to express a protein binding to the polypeptide of the invention, such that the library, when expressed, is fused to the VP16 or GAL4 transcriptional activation region. The cDNA library is then introduced into the above yeast cells and the cDNA derived from the library is isolated from the positive clones detected (when a protein binding to the polypeptide of the invention is expressed in yeast cells, the binding of the two activates a reporter gene, making positive clones detectable). A protein encoded by the cDNA can be prepared by introducing the cDNA isolated above to E. coli and expressing the protein.

As a reporter gene, for example, Ade2 gene, lacZ gene, CAT gene, luciferase gene and such can be used in addition to the HIS3 gene.

A compound binding to the polypeptide of the present invention can also be screened using affinity chromatography. For example, the polypeptide of the invention may be immobilized on a carrier of an affinity column, and a test compound, containing a protein capable of binding to the polypeptide of the invention, is applied to the column. A test compound herein may be, for example, cell extracts, cell lysates, etc. After loading the test compound, the column is washed, and compounds bound to the polypeptide of the invention can be prepared.

When the test compound is a protein, the amino acid sequence of the obtained protein is analyzed, an oligo DNA is synthesized based on the sequence, and cDNA libraries are screened using the oligo DNA as a probe to obtain a DNA encoding the protein.

A biosensor using the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon may be used as a mean for detecting or quantifying the bound compound in the present invention. When such a biosensor is used, the interaction between the polypeptide of the invention and a test compound can be observed real-time as a surface plasmon resonance signal, using only a minute amount of polypeptide and without labeling (for example, BIAcore, Pharmacia). Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the binding between the polypeptide of the invention and a test compound using a biosensor such as BIAcore.

The methods of screening for molecules that bind when the immobilized polypeptide of the present invention is exposed to synthetic chemical compounds, or natural substance banks or a random phage peptide display library, and the methods of screening using high-throughput based on combinatorial chemistry techniques (Wrighton et al., Science 273: 458-64 (1996); Verdine, Nature 384: 11-13 (1996); Hogan, Nature 384: 17-9 (1996)) to isolate not only proteins but chemical compounds that bind to the protein of the present invention (including agonist and antagonist) are well known to one skilled in the art.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer using the polypeptide of the present invention comprising the steps as follows:

(a) contacting a test compound with the polypeptide of the present invention;

(b) detecting the biological activity of the polypeptide of step (a); and

(c) selecting a compound that suppresses the biological activity of the polypeptide in comparison with the biological activity detected in the absence of the test compound.

Since the MICAL2-PV and PCOTH proteins of the present invention have the activity of promoting cell proliferation of prostate cancer cells, a compound which promotes or inhibits this activity of one of these proteins of the present invention can be screened using this activity as an index.

Any polypeptides can be used for screening so long as they comprise the biological activity of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein. Such biological activity include cell-proliferating activity of the human MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein, the activity of MICAL2-PV to bind to actin. For example, a human MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein can be used and polypeptides functionally equivalent to these proteins can also be used. Such polypeptides may be expressed endogenously or exogenously by cells.

The compound isolated by this screening is a candidate for agonists or antagonists of the polypeptide of the present invention. The term “agonist” refers to molecules that activate the function of the polypeptide of the present invention by binding thereto. Likewise, the term “antagonist” refers to molecules that inhibit the function of the polypeptide of the present invention by binding thereto. Moreover, a compound isolated by this screening is a candidate for compounds which inhibit the in vivo interaction of the polypeptide of the present invention with molecules (including DNAs and proteins).

When the biological activity to be detected in the present method is cell proliferation, it can be detected, for example, by preparing cells which express the polypeptide of the present invention, culturing the cells in the presence of a test compound, and determining the speed of cell proliferation, measuring the cell cycle and such, as well as by measuring the colony forming activity as described in the Examples.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides methods for screening compounds for treating or preventing prostate cancer. As discussed in detail above, by controlling the expression levels of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH, one can control the onset and progression of prostate cancer. Thus, compounds that may be used in the treatment or prevention of prostate cancer can be identified through screenings that use the expression levels of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH as indices. In the context of the present invention, such screening may comprise, for example, the following steps:

-   -   a) contacting a test compound with a cell expressing the         MICAL2-PV or PCOTH, and     -   b) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of         MICAL2-PV or PCOTH in comparison with the expression level         detected in the absence of the test compound.

Cells expressing at least one of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH include, for example, cell lines established from prostate cancers; such cells can be used for the above screening of the present invention (e.g., LNCaP, PC3, DU145). The expression level can be estimated by methods well known to one skilled in the art. In the method of screening, a compound that reduces the expression level of at least one of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH can be selected as candidate agents to be used for the treatment or prevention of prostate cancer.

Alternatively, the screening method of the present invention may comprise the following steps:

-   -   a) contacting a test compound with a cell into which a vector         comprising the transcriptional regulatory region of one or more         marker genes and a reporter gene that is expressed under the         control of the transcriptional regulatory region has been         introduced, wherein the one or more marker genes are MICAL2-PV         and PCOTH,     -   b) measuring the activity of said reporter gene; and     -   c) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of         said reporter gene as compared to a control.

Suitable reporter genes and host cells are well known in the art. The reporter construct required for the screening can be prepared by using the transcriptional regulatory region of a marker gene. When the transcriptional regulatory region of a marker gene has been known to those skilled in the art, a reporter construct can be prepared by using the previous sequence information. When the transcriptional regulatory region of a marker gene remains unidentified, a nucleotide segment containing the transcriptional regulatory region can be isolated from a genome library based on the nucleotide sequence information of the marker gene.

In a further embodiment of the method for screening a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer of the present invention, the method utilizes the binding ability of MICAL2-PV to actin. The MICAL2-PV protein of the present invention was revealed to comprise a domain having homology to calponin domain, an actin-binding domain. Therefore, the protein encoded by MICAL2-PV is predicted to interact with actin or other microtubles. These domains cross-link actin filaments into bundles and networks. The finding suggest that the MICAL2-PV protein of the present invention exerts the function of cell proliferation via its binding to molecules, such as acting and other microtubles. Thus, it is expected that the inhibition of the binding between the MICAL2-PV protein and actin or other microtubles leads to the suppression of cell proliferation, and compounds inhibiting the binding serve as pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing prostate cancer.

This screening method includes the steps of: (a) contacting a MICAL-PV polypeptide of the present invention with actin in the presence of a test compound; (b) detecting the binding between the polypeptide and actin; and (c) selecting the compound that inhibits the binding between the polypeptide and actin.

The MICAL2-PV polypeptide of the present invention and actin to be used for the screening may be a recombinant polypeptide or a protein derived from the nature, or may also be a partial peptide thereof so long as it retains the binding ability to each other. The MICAL2-PV polypeptide and actin to be used in the screening can be, for example, a purified polypeptide, a soluble protein, a form bound to a carrier or a fusion protein fused with other polypeptides.

As a method of screening for compounds that inhibit the binding between the MICAL2-PV protein and actin, many methods well known by one skilled in the art can be used. Such a screening can be carried out as an in vitro assay system, for example, in a cellular system. More specifically, first, either the MICAL2-PV polypeptide or actin is bound to a support, and the other protein is added together with a test compound thereto. Next, the mixture is incubated, washed and the other protein bound to the support is detected and/or measured.

Examples of supports that may be used for binding proteins include insoluble polysaccharides, such as agarose, cellulose and dextran; and synthetic resins, such as polyacrylamide, polystyrene and silicon; preferably commercial available beads and plates (e.g., multi-well plates, biosensor chip, etc.) prepared from the above materials may be used. When using beads, they bay be filled into a column.

The binding of a protein to a support may be conducted according to routine methods, such as chemical bonding and physical adsorption. Alternatively, a protein may be bound to a support via antibodies specifically recognizing the protein. Moreover, binding of a protein to a support can be also conducted by means of avidin and biotin.

The binding between proteins is carried out in buffer, for example, but are not limited to, phosphate buffer and Tris buffer, as long as the buffer does not inhibit the binding between the proteins.

In the present invention, a biosensor using the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon may be used as a mean for detecting or quantifying the bound protein. When such a biosensor is used, the interaction between the proteins can be observed real-time as a surface plasmon resonance signal, using only a minute amount of polypeptide and without labeling (for example, BIAcore, Pharmacia). Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the binding between the MICAL2-PV polypeptide and actin using a biosensor such as BIAcore.

Alternatively, either the MICAL2-PV polypeptide or actin may be labeled, and the label of the bound protein may be used to detect or measure the bound protein. Specifically, after pre-labeling one of the proteins, the labeled protein is contacted with the other protein in the presence of a test compound, and then bound proteins are detected or measured according to the label after washing.

Labeling substances such as radioisotope (erg., ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³³P, ³⁵S, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I), enzymes (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase), fluorescent substances (e.g., fluorescein isothiosyanete (FITC), rhodamine) and biotin/avidin, may be used for the labeling of a protein in the present method. When the protein is labeled with radioisotope, the detection or measurement can be carried out by liquid scintillation. Alternatively, proteins labeled with enzymes can be detected or measured by adding a substrate of the enzyme to detect the enzymatic change of the substrate, such as generation of color, with absorptiometer. Further, in case where a fluorescent substance is used as the label, the bound protein may be detected or measured using fluorophotometer.

Furthermore, the binding of the MICAL2-PV polypeptide and actin can be also detected or measured using antibodies to the MICAL2-PV polypeptide and actin. For example, after contacting the MICAL2-PV polypeptide immobilized on a support with a test compound and actin, the mixture is incubated and washed, and detection or measurement can be conducted using an antibody against actin. Alternatively, actin may be immobilized on a support, and an antibody against MICAL2-PV may be used as the antibody.

In case of using an antibody in the present screening, the antibody is preferably labeled with one of the labeling substances mentioned above, and detected or measured based on the labeling substance. Alternatively, the antibody against the MICAL2-PV polypeptide or actin may be used as a primary antibody to be detected with a secondary antibody that is labeled with a labeling substance. Furthermore, the antibody bound to the protein in the screening of the present invention may be detected or measured using protein G or protein A column.

Alternatively, in another embodiment of the screening method of the present invention, a two-hybrid system utilizing cells may be used (“MATCHMAKER Two-Hybrid system”, “Mammalian MATCHMAKER Two-Hybrid Assay Kit”, “MATCHMAKER one-Hybrid system” (Clontech); “HybriZAP Two-Hybrid Vector System” (Stratagene); the references “Dalton and Treisman, Cell 68: 597-612 (1992)”, “Fields and Sternglanz, Trends Genet 10: 286-92 (1994)”).

In the two-hybrid system, the MICAL2-PV polypeptide of the invention is fused to the SRF-binding region or GAL4-binding region and expressed in yeast cells. The actin binding to the MICAL2-PV polypeptide of the invention is fused to the VP16 or GAL4 transcriptional activation region and also expressed in the yeast cells in the existence of a test compound. When the test compound does not inhibit the binding between the MICAL2-PV polypeptide and actin, the binding of the two activates a reporter gene, making positive clones detectable.

As a reporter gene, for example, Ade2 gene, lacZ gene, CAT gene, luciferase gene and such can be used besides HIS3 gene.

Any test compound, for example, cell extracts, cell culture supernatant, products of fermenting microorganism, extracts from marine organism, plant extracts, purified or crude proteins, peptides, non-peptide compounds, synthetic micromolecular compounds and natural compounds can be used in the screening methods of the present invention. The test compound of the present invention can be also obtained using any of the numerous approaches in combinatorial library methods known in the art, including (1) biological libraries, (2) spatially addressable parallel solid phase or solution phase libraries, (3) synthetic library methods requiring deconvolution, (4) the “one-bead one-compound” library method and (5) synthetic library methods using affinity chromatography selection. The biological library methods using affinity chromatography selection is limited to peptide libraries, while the other four approaches are applicable to peptide, non-peptide oligomer or small molecule libraries of compounds (Lam (1997) Anticancer Drug Des. 12: 145). Examples of methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries can be found in the art (DeWitt et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 6909; Erb et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 11422; Zuckermann et al. (1994) J. Med. Chem. 37: 2678; Cho et al. (1993) Science 261: 1303; Carell et al. (1994) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33: 2059; Carell et al. (1994) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33: 2061; Gallop et al. (1994) J. Med. Chem. 37: 1233). Libraries of compounds may be presented in solution (see Houghten (1992) Bio/Techniques 13: 412) or on beads (Lam (1991) Nature 354: 82), chips (Fodor (1993) Nature 364: 555), bacteria (U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), spores (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,698; 5,403,484, and 5,223,409), plasmids (Cull et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 1865) or phage (Scott and Smith (1990) Science 249: 386; Delvin (1990) Science 249: 404; Cwirla et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87: 6378; Felici (1991) J. Mol. Biol. 222: 301; US Pat. Application 2002103360).

A compound isolated by the screening methods of the present invention is a candidate for drugs which promote or inhibit the activity of the polypeptide of the present invention, for treating or preventing diseases attributed to, for example, cell proliferative diseases, such as prostate cancer. A compound in which a part of the structure of the compound obtained by the present screening methods of the present invention is converted by addition, deletion and/or replacement, is included in the compounds obtained by the screening methods of the present invention.

Pharmaceutical Compositions for Treating or Preventing Prostate Cancer

The present invention provides compositions for treating or preventing prostate cancer comprising any of the compounds selected by the screening methods of the present invention.

When administrating a compound isolated by the screening methods of the present invention as a pharmaceutical for humans or other mammals, such as mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, sheep, pigs, cattle, monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, for treating a cell proliferative disease (e.g., prostate cancer) the isolated compound can be directly administered or can be formulated into a dosage form using known pharmaceutical preparation methods. For example, according to the need, the drugs can be taken orally, as sugarcoated tablets, capsules, elixirs and microcapsules; or non-orally, in the form of injections of sterile solutions or suspensions with water or any other pharmaceutically acceptable liquid. For example, the compounds can be mixed with pharmacologically acceptable carriers or medium, specifically, sterilized water, physiological saline, plant-oil, emulsifiers, suspending agents, surfactants, stabilizers, flavoring agents, excipients, vehicles, preservatives, binders and such, in a unit dose form required for generally accepted drug implementation. The amount of active ingredients in these preparations makes a suitable dosage within the indicated range acquirable.

Examples of additives that can be mixed to tablets and capsules are, binders such as gelatin, corn starch, tragacanth gum and arabic gum; excipients such as crystalline cellulose; swelling agents such as corn starch, gelatin and alginic acid; lubricants such as magnesium stearate; sweeteners such as sucrose, lactose or saccharin; flavoring agents such as peppermint, Gaultheria adenothrix oil and cherry. When the unit dosage form is a capsule, a liquid carrier, such as oil, can also be further included in the above ingredients. Sterile composites for injections can be formulated following normal drug implementations using vehicles such as distilled water used for injections.

Physiological saline, glucose, and other isotonic liquids including adjuvants, such as D-sorbitol, D-mannnose, D-mannitol and sodium chloride, can be used as aqueous solutions for injections. These can be used in conjunction with suitable solubilizers, such as alcohol, specifically ethanol, polyalcohols such as propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol, non-ionic surfactants, such as Polysorbate 80 (TM) and HCO-50.

Sesame oil or Soy-bean oil can be used as a oleaginous liquid and may be used in conjunction with benzyl benzoate or benzyl alcohol as a solubilizers and may be formulated with a buffer, such as phosphate buffer and sodium acetate buffer; a pain-killer, such as procaine hydrochloride; a stabilizer, such as benzyl alcohol, phenol; and an anti-oxidant. The prepared injection may be filled into a suitable ampule.

Methods well known to one skilled in the art may be used to administer the inventive pharmaceutical compound to patients, for example as intraarterial, intravenous, percutaneous injections and also as intranasal, transbronchial, intramuscular or oral administrations. The dosage and method of administration vary according to the body-weight and age of a patient and the administration method; however, one skilled in the art can routinely select them. If said compound is encodable by a DNA, the DNA can, be inserted into a vector for gene therapy and the vector administered to perform the therapy. The dosage and method of administration vary according to the body-weight, age, and symptoms of a patient but one skilled in the art can select them suitably.

For example, although there are some differences according to the symptoms, the dose of a compound that binds with the polypeptide of the present invention and regulates its activity is about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg per day, preferably about 1.0 mg to about 50 mg per day and more preferably about 1.0 mg to about 20 mg per day, when administered orally to a normal adult (weight 60 kg).

When administering parenterally, in the form of an injection to a normal adult (weight 60 kg), although there are some differences according to the patient, target organ, symptoms and method of administration, it is convenient to intravenously inject a dose of about 0.01 mg to about 30 mg per day, preferably about 0.1 to about 20 mg per day and more preferably about 0.1 to about 10 mg per day. Also, in the case of other animals too, it is possible to administer an amount converted to 60 kgs of body-weight.

Furthermore, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing prostate cancer comprising active ingredients that inhibits the expression of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene. Such active ingredients include antisense polynucleotides, siRNAs or ribozymes against the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene or derivatives, such as expression vector, of the antisense polynucleotides, siRNAs or ribozymes.

These active ingredients can be made into an external preparation, such as a liniment or a poultice, by mixing with a suitable base material which is inactive against the derivatives. Also, as needed, they can be formulated into tablets, powders, granules, capsules, liposome capsules, injections, solutions, nose-drops and freeze-drying agents by adding excipients, isotonic agents, solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, pain-killers and such. These can be prepared according to conventional methods.

The active ingredient is given to the patient by directly applying onto the ailing site or by injecting into a blood vessel so that it will reach the site of ailment. A mounting medium can also be used to increase durability and membrane-permeability. Examples of mouting medium includes liposome, poly-L-lysine, lipid, cholesterol, lipofectin or derivatives of these.

The dosage of such compositions of the present invention can be adjusted suitably according to the patient's condition and used in desired amounts. For example, a dose range of 0.1 to 100 mg/kg, preferably 0.1 to 50 mg/kg can be administered.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a composition for treating or preventing prostate cancer comprising an antibody against a polypeptide encoded by the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene or fragments of the antibody that bind to the polypeptide.

Although there are some differences according to the symptoms, the dose of an antibody or fragments thereof for treating or preventing prostate cancer is about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg per day, preferably about 1.0 mg to about 50 mg per day and more preferably about 1.0 mg to about 20 mg per day, when administered orally to a normal adult (weight 60 kg).

When administering parenterally, in the form of an injection to a normal adult (weight 60 kg), although there are some differences according to the condition of the patient, symptoms of the disease and method of a se dministration, it is convenient to intravenously inject a dose of about 0.01 mg to about 30 mg per day, preferably about 0.1 to about 20 mg per day and more preferably about 0.1 to about 10 mg per day. A the caof other animals too, it is possible to administer an amount converted to 60 kg of body-weight.

Methods for Treating or Preventing Prostate Cancer

The invention provides a method for treating or preventing prostate cancer in a subject. Therapeutic compounds are administered prophylactically or therapeutically to subject suffering from or at risk of (or susceptible to) developing prostate cancer. Such subjects are identified using standard clinical methods or by detecting an aberrant expression level or activity of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH. Prophylactic administration occurs prior to the manifestation of overt clinical symptoms of disease, such that a disease or disorder is prevented or, alternatively, delayed in its progression.

The therapeutic method includes decreasing the expression or function, or both of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene. In these methods, the subject is treated with an effective amount of a compound, which decreases one or both of the over-expressed genes (MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene) in the subject. Administration can be systemic or local. Therapeutic compounds include compounds that decrease the expression level of such gene endogenously existing in the prostate cancerous cells (i.e., compounds that down-regulate the expression of the over-expressed gene(s)). Administration of such therapeutic compounds counter the effects of aberrantly-over expressed gene(s) in the subjects cells and are expected to improve the clinical condition of the subject. Such compounds can be obtained by the screening method of the present invention described above.

The expression of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene may be also inhibited in any of several ways known in the art including administering to the subject a nucleic acid that inhibits or antagonizes the expression of the gene(s). Antisense oligonucleotides, siRNA or ribozymes which disrupts expression of the gene(s) can be used for inhibiting the expression of the genes.

As noted above, antisense-oligonucleotides corresponding to the nucleotide sequence of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene can be used to reduce the expression level of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene. Specifically, the antisense-oligonucleotides of the present invention may act by binding to any of the polypeptides encoded by the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene, or mRNAs corresponding thereto, thereby inhibiting the transcription or translation of the genes, promoting the degradation of the mRNAs, and/or inhibiting the expression of proteins encoded by the genes, and finally inhibiting the function of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH proteins.

An antisense-oligonucleotides and derivatives thereof can be made into an external preparation, such as a liniment or a poultice, by mixing with a suitable base material which is inactive against the derivative and used in the method for treating or preventing prostate cancer of the present invention.

The nucleic acids that inhibit one or more gene products of over-expressed genes also include small interfering RNAs (siRNA) comprising a combination of a sense strand nucleic acid and an antisense strand nucleic acid of the nucleotide sequence encoding the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene. Standard techniques of introducing siRNA into the cell can be used in the treatment or prevention of the present invention, including those in which DNA is a template from which RNA is transcribed. The siRNA is constructed such that a single transcript has both the sense and complementary antisense sequences from the target gene, e.g., a hairpin.

The method is used to suppress gene expression of a cell with up-regulated expression of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene. Binding of the siRNA to the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene transcript in the target cell results in a reduction of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein production by the cell.

The nucleic acids that inhibit one or more gene products of over-expressed genes also include ribozymes against the over-expressed gene(s) (MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene).

Moreover, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing a cell proliferative disease, such as prostate cancer, using an antibody against the polypeptide of the present invention. According to the method, a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antibody against the polypeptide of the present invention is administered. Since the expression of the MICAL2-PV and PCOTH protein are up-regulated in prostate cancer cells and the suppression of the expression of these proteins leads to the decrease in cell proliferating activity, it is expected that cell proliferative diseases can be treated or prevented by binding the antibody and these proteins. Thus, an antibody against the polypeptide of the present invention are administered at a dosage sufficient to reduce the activity of the protein of the present invention, which is in the range of 0.1 to about 250 mg/kg per day. The dose range for adult humans is generally from about 5 mg to about 17.5 g/day, preferably about 5 mg to about 10 g/day, and most preferably about 100 mg to about 3 g/day.

Alternatively, an antibody binding to a cell surface marker specific for tumor cells can be used as a tool for drug delivery. For example, the antibody conjugated with a cytotoxic agent is administered at a dosage sufficient to injure tumor cells.

The present invention also relates to a method of inducing anti-tumor immunity comprising the step of administering MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein or an immunologically active fragment thereof, or a polynucleotide encoding the protein or fragments thereof. The MICAL2-PV or PCOTH protein or the immunologically active fragments thereof are useful as vaccines against cell proliferative diseases such as prostate cancer. In some cases the proteins or fragments thereof may be administered in a form bound to the T cell receptor (TCR) or presented by an antigen presenting cell (APC), such as macrophage, dendritic cell (DC), or B-cells. Due to the strong antigen presenting ability of DC, the use of DC is most preferable among the APCs.

In the present invention, vaccine against cell proliferative disease refers to a substance that has the function to induce anti-tumor immunity upon inoculation into animals. In general, anti-tumor immunity includes immune responses such as follows:lso, in

induction of cytotoxic lymphocytes against tumors,

induction of antibodies that recognize tumors, and

induction of anti-tumor cytokine production.

Therefore, when a certain protein induces any one of these immune responses upon inoculation into an animal, the protein is decided to have anti-tumor immunity inducing effect. The induction of the anti-tumor immunity by a protein can be detected by observing in vivo or in vitro the response of the immune system in the host against the protein.

For example, a method for detecting the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes is well known. A foreign substance that enters the living body is presented to T cells and B cells by the action of antigen presenting cells (APCs). T cells that respond to the antigen presented by APC in antigen specific manner differentiate into cytotoxic T cells (or cytotoxic T lymphocytes; CTLs) due to stimulation by the antigen, and then proliferate (this is referred to as activation of T cells). Therefore, CTL induction by a certain peptide can be evaluated by presenting the peptide to T cell by APC, and detecting the induction of CTL. Furthermore, APC has the effect of activating CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophages, eosinophils, and NK cells. Since CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells are also important in anti-tumor immunity, the anti-tumor immunity inducing action of the peptide can be evaluated using the activation effect of these cells as indicators.

A method for evaluating the inducing action of CTL using dendritic cells (DCs) as APC is well known in the art. DC is a representative APC having the strongest CTL inducing action among APCs. In this method, the test polypeptide is initially contacted with DC, and then this DC is contacted with T cells. Detection of T cells having cytotoxic effects against the cells of interest after the contact with DC shows that the test polypeptide has an activity of inducing the cytotoxic T cells. Activity of CTL against tumors can be detected, for example, using the lysis of ⁵¹Cr-labeled tumor cells as the indicator. Alternatively, the method of evaluating the degree of tumor cell damage using ³H-thymidine uptake activity or LDH (lactose dehydrogenase)-release as the indicator is also well known.

Apart from DC, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) may also be used as the APC. The induction of CTL is reported that the it can be enhanced by culturing PBMC in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4. Similarly, CTL has been shown to be induced by culturing PBMC in the presence of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and IL-7.

The test polypeptides confirmed to possess CTL inducing activity by these methods are polypeptides having DC activation effect and subsequent CTL inducing activity. Therefore, polypeptides that induce CTL against tumor cells are useful as vaccines against tumors. Furthermore, APC that acquired the ability to induce CTL against tumors by contacting with the polypeptides are useful as vaccines against tumors. Furthermore, CTL that acquired cytotoxicity due to presentation of the polypeptide antigens by APC can be also used as vaccines against tumors. Such therapeutic methods for tumors using anti-tumor immunity due to APC and CTL are referred to as cellular immunotherapy.

Generally, when using a polypeptide for cellular immunotherapy, efficiency of the CTL-induction is known to increase by combining a plurality of polypeptides having different structures and contacting them with DC. Therefore, when stimulating DC with protein fragments, it is advantageous to use a mixture of multiple types of fragments.

Alternatively, the induction of anti-tumor immunity by a polypeptide can be confirmed by observing the induction of antibody production against tumors. For example, when antibodies against a polypeptide are induced in a laboratory animal immunized with the polypeptide and when growth of tumor cells is suppressed by those antibodies, the polypeptide can be determined to have an ability to induce anti-tumor immunity.

Anti-tumor immunity is induced by administering the vaccine of this invention, and the induction of anti-tumor immunity enables treatment and prevention of cell proliferating diseases, such as prostate cancers. Therapy against cancer or prevention of the onset of cancer includes any of the steps, such as inhibition of the growth of cancerous cells, involution of cancer and suppression of occurrence of cancer. Decrease in mortality of individuals having cancer, decrease of tumor markers in the blood, alleviation of detectable symptoms accompanying cancer and such are also included as the effect of therapy or prevention of cancer. Such therapeutic and preventive effects are preferably statistically significant For example, in observation, at a significance level of 5% or less, wherein the therapeutic or preventive effect of a vaccine against cell proliferative diseases is compared to a control without vaccine administration. For example, Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney U-test or ANOVA may be used for statistical analyses.

The above-mentioned protein having immunological activity or a vector encoding the protein may be combined with an adjuvant An adjuvant refers to a compound that enhances the immune response against the protein when administered together (or successively) with the protein having immunological activity. Examples of adjuvants include cholera toxin, salmonella toxin, alum and such, but are not limited thereto. Furthermore, the vaccine of this invention may be combined appropriately with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Examples of such carriers are sterilized water, physiological saline, phosphate buffer, culture fluid and such. Furthermore, the vaccine may contain as necessary, stabilizers, suspensions, preservatives, surfactants and such. The vaccine is administered systemically or locally. Vaccine administration may be performed by single administration or boosted by multiple administrations.

When using APC or CTL as the vaccine of this invention, tumors can be treated or prevented, for example, by the ex vivo method. More specifically, PBMCs of a subject receiving treatment or prevention therapy are collected, the cells are contacted with the polypeptide ex vivo, and following the induction of APC or CTL, the cells may be administered to the subject. APC can be also induced by introducing a vector encoding the polypeptide into PBMCs ex vivo. APC or CTL induced in vitro can be cloned prior to administration. By cloning and growing cells having high activity of damaging target cells, cellular immunotherapy can be performed more effectively. Furthermore, APC and CTL isolated in this manner may be used for cellular immunotherapy not only against individuals from whom the cells are derived, but also against similar types of tumors from other individuals.

Furthermore, a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a cell proliferative disease, such as prostate cancer, comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH polypeptide is provided. The pharmaceutical composition may be used for raising anti tumor immunity. The normal expression of MICAL2-PV is restricted to testis and that of PCOTH is restricted to testis and prostate. Therefore, suppression of these genes may not adversely affect other organs. Thus, the MICAL2-PV and PCOTH polypeptides are preferable for treating cell proliferative disease, especially prostate cancers. Furthermore, since peptide fragments of proteins specifically expressed in cancerous cells were revealed to induce immune response against the cancer, peptide fragments of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH can also be used in a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing cell proliferative diseases such as prostate cancers. In the present invention, the polypeptide or fragment thereof is administered at a dosage sufficient to induce anti-tumor immunity, which is in the range of 0.1 mg to 10 mg, preferably 0.3 mg to 5 mg, more preferably 0.8 mg to 1.5 mg. The administrations are repeated. For example, 1 mg of the peptide or fragment thereof may be administered 4 times in every two weeks for inducing the anti-tumor immunity.

In addition, polynucleotides encoding MICAL2-PV or PCOTH, or fragments thereof may be used for raising anti tumor immunity. Such polynucleotides may be incorporated in an expression vector to express MICAL2-PV or PCOTH, or fragments thereof in a subject to be treated. Thus, the present invention encompasses method for inducing anti tumor immunity wherein the polynucleotides encoding MICAL2-PV or PCOTH, or fragments thereof are administered to a subject suffering or being at risk of developing cell proliferative diseases such as prostate cancer.

The following examples are presented to illustrate the present invention and to assist one of ordinary skill in making and using the same. The examples are not intended in any way to otherwise limit the scope of the invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. Any patents, patent applications and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is illustrated in details by following Examples, but is not restricted to these Examples.

1. Materials and Methods

(1) Cell Lines and Clinical Materials

Human prostate cancer cells LNCaP, PC3 and DU145 were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockville, Md.). All cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) for LNCap, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) for DU145, and F12 nutrient mixture (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) for PC3, each supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic/antimycotic solution (Sigma).

(2) Isolation of Two Novel Human Genes using cDNA Microarray

Fabrication of cDNA microarray slides has been described (Ono et al., Cancer Res 60: 5007-11 (2000)). For each analysis of expression profiles, the present inventors prepared duplicate sets of cDNA microarray slides containing 23,040 cDNA spots, to reduce experimental fluctuation. Briefly, total RNAs were purified from prostate cancer cells and normal prostate duct epithelium microdissected from 20 prostate cancer tissues. T7-based RNA amplification was carried out to obtain adequate RNA for microarray experiments. Aliquots of amplified RNA from prostate cancer cells and normal duct epithelium were labeled by reverse transcription with Cy5-dCTP and Cy3-dCTP, respectively (Amersham Biosciences, Buckinghamshire, UK). Hybridization, washing, and detection were carried out as described previously (Ono et al., Cancer Res 60: 5007-11 (2000)). Subsequently, among the up-regulated genes, two genes with in-house identification number D4493 and A5736 were focused due to its expression ratio which was greater than 5.0 in more than 50% of informative prostate cancers and their expression level in normal vital major organs which was relatively low according to previous data obtained by the inventors on gene expression in 29 normal human tissues (Saito-Hisaminato et al., DNA Res 9: 35-45 (2002)).

(3) Northern-Blot Analysis

Human multiple-tissue Northern blots (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) were hybridized with an [α-³²P] dCTP-labeled PCR product of D4493 and A5736. The PCR products were prepared by RT-PCR using primers:

-   5′-CCGACACTCTGGGTAGGAGA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.7) and -   5′-TACGTGAGCTCTGAGGACCA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.8) for D4493; and -   5′-TGAAGCAACAAAGAGAGGAGGAG-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.9) and -   5′-CCGTGTGGCACTGTAAATGATTA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.10) for A5736. -   Pre-hybridization, hybridization and washing were performed     according to the supplier's recommendations. The blots were     autoradiographed with intensifying screens at −80° C. for 7 days.     (4) Semi-Quantitative RT-PCR Analysis

Total RNA was extracted from cultured cells and clinical samples using TRIzol Reagent (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Extracted RNA was treated with DNase I (Roche) and reversely transcribed for single-stranded cDNAs using oligo(dT)₁₆ primer with Superscript II reverse transcriptase (Roche). Appropriate dilutions of each single-stranded cDNA were prepared for subsequent PCR amplification by monitoring the β-actin (ACTB) as a quantitative control. The primer sequences were

-   5′-CATCCACGAAACTACCTTCAACT-3′(SEQ.ID.NO. 11) and -   5′-TCTCCTTAGAGAGAAGTGGGGTG-3′(SEQ.ID.NO. 12) for ACTB; -   5′-CCGACACTCTGGGTAGGAGA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO. 13) and -   5′-TACGTGAGCTCTGAGGACCA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.14) for D4493; and -   5′-GCAGGGATATCTTTGAGAAA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.15) and -   5′-CCAGGATCTGCACAAATACA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.16) for A5736. All reactions     involved initial denaturation at 94° C. for 2 min followed by 21     cycles (for ACTB) or 35 cycles (for D4493 and A5736) at 94° C. for     30 s, 58° C. for 30 s, and 72° C. for 1 min, on a GeneAmp PCR system     9700 (PE Applied Biosystems).     (5) Construction of Expression Vector

The entire coding sequence of D4493 cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR with primers; 5′-CGTGGATCCC AGACCGTGCATCATGGGCAC ATCTGAAGAA GGAAACTTGC-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.17) (D4493-forward) and 5′-AATCTCGAGT CAGGGGCAGAAGGGGAATAA GG-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.18) (D4493-reverse). The product was inserted into the EcoRI sites of pCAGGS neo vector after blunting treatment. For detection of D4493 protein expression, HA tag was fused at NH₂ or COOH terminus of the D4493 protein. The entire coding sequence of A5736 cDNA was also amplified by RT-PCR with primers; 5′-CCCAAGCTTA TGGGGGAAAA CGAGGATGA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.19) (A5736-forward) and 5′-TTTTCCTTTT GCGGCCGCGC GGAGCTTGAC TGGGAAGC-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.20) (D5736-reverse). The product was inserted into the Hind III and Not I sites of pcDNA3.1 (+)/myc-His (Invitrogen). These constructs were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

(6) Immunocytochemical Staining

COS7 cells were transfected transiently with pCAGGS neo-D4493 and pcDNA3.1(−)-A5736-myc-His using FuGENE 6 (Roche) according to manufacture's instruction, then were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and permeablilized with 0.2% Triton X-100in PBS for 3min at room temperature. Next, the cells were covered with blocking solution (3% BSA/PBS containing 0.2% Triton X-100) for 30min at room temperature, and incubated with a rat anti-HA antibody (Roche) or a rat anti-myc antibody (Sigma) in blocking solution for 60 min at room temperature. After washing with PBS, cells were stained by a FITC-conjugated anti-rat secondary antibody (Organon teknika), and Rhodamine-conjugated anti-mouse secondary antibody (ICN Biomedicals) for 60 min at room temperature. Specimen was mounted with VECTASHIELD (VECTOR Laboratories, Inc. Burlingame, Calif.) containing 4′,6′-diamidine-2′-phenylindolendihydrochrolide (DAPI) and visualized with Spectral Confocal Scanning Systems (Leica).

(7) siRNA Expression Vector and Transfection to Prostate Cancer Cell

siRNA expression vector (psiU6BX) were used for evaluating the effect or RNAi to the target genes. The U6 promoter was cloned into the upstream of the gene specific sequence (19nt sequence from the target transcript separated by a short spacer TTCAAGAGA from the reverse complement of the same sequence) and five thymidines as termination signal, furthermore neo cassette was integrated to provide resistance against Geneticin (Sigma). The target sequences for D4493 were

-   5′-TAGGGCCCATGGGGCCCGG-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.21) (si1), -   5′-ACCAGTTGGGCCCAAAGGC-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.22) (si2), -   5′-AGGCCCAATGTTGCCCCTT-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.23) (si3), -   5′-TGTTGCCCCTTGGCCCCTC-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.24) (si4), and -   5′-GAAGCAGCACGACTTCTTC-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.25) (EGFP), respectively. The     target sequences for A5736 are     5′-GCTGCTGGCCTCCATATCA-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.26) (si1), -   5′-TGCTTACAACTACTGCTAC-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.27) (si2), and -   5′-CTACTGCTACATGTACGAG-3′(SEQ.ID.NO.28) (si3). The human prostate     cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC3 and DU145 were plated onto 10-cm dishes     (5×10⁵ cells/dish), and transfected with psiU6BX containing EGFP     target sequence (psiU6BX-EGFP) and psiH1BX containing target     sequence (psiU6BX-sil ˜4 of D4493 or sil ˜3 of A5736) using     Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) according to manufacture's     instruction. Cells were selected by treating with 500 mg/ml     Geneticin for one week and preliminary cells were harvested for     expression analysis of the target genes and analyzed by RT-PCR. The     primers of RT-PCR were the same as described above. These cells were     also stained by Giemsa solution and performed MTT assay.     2. Results     (1) Identification of PCOTH and Prostate Cancer Variants of MICAL2     (MICAL2-PV) as Up-Regulated Genes in Prostate Cancer Cells

Gene-expression profiles of purified cancer cells from 20 prostate cancers were analyzed using cDNA microarray representing 23,040 human genes. As a result, 88 genes that were commonly up-regulated in prostate cancer cells were identified. Among the identified genes, one gene with an in-house code D4493 that was markedly up-regulated in more than 50% of prostate cancer was focused and validated for its over-expressed pattern in prostate cancer cells by RT-PCR (FIG. 1A). D4493 was overlapped by two ESTs (BC015452 and BG178505) derived form prostate cancer cDNA library and was revealed to be identical with LOC221179 (XP_(—)167955). Comparison between mouse/rat genome sequences, a novel coding region of LOC221179 was determined which codes a 100-amino acid protein. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that LOC221179 was highly and locally expressed in prostate and testis (FIG. 1B). This product has one characteristic domain, collagen triple helix repeat (FIG. 1C), which is a characteristic feature of the collagen superfamily. Thus, the gene was dubbed “PCOTH (prostate collagen triple helix)”.

Next another gene, A5736, also markedly up-regulated in more than 50% of prostate cancer was focused and validated the over-expressed pattern in prostate cancer cells by RT-PCR (FIG. 2A). This gene overlapped with MICAL2 (Molecule Interacting with CasL 2). Northern blot analysis using the sequence of A5736 as a probe demonstrated that a transcript of approximately 7.5 kb was abundantly expressed in testis and prostate cancer cell lines. However, normal transcript of MICAL2 transcript was confirmed to have a size of 3.8 kb (FIG. 2B). To solve this discrepancy of size, RACE was performed to identify unknown transcribed region. As a result of RACE using testis cDNA, novel variants of MICAL2 with a size of 7.5 kb were identified. The coding region of the 3′ terminus of the identified variants was different from MICAL2 and encoded a 976 amino-acid residue instead of the 1124 amino-acid residue of the normal MICAL2 protein (FIG. 2C). According to the invention, the present inventors discovered two novel variants of MICAL2, one long form variant (Accession number: AB 110785) and one short form variant (Accession number: AB110786) wherein one exon is spliced out from the long form variant. Herein, the variants are collectively called “MICAL2-PV (MICAL2prostate cancer-variants)”.

(2) Subcellular Localization

To further investigate the subcellular localization of PCOTH and MICAL2-PV proteins, these proteins were ligated with tag and were transiently over-expressed in COS7 cells to perform immunocytochemical staining. As shown in FIG. 3, exogenous PCOTH-HA protein was localized in the cell membrane or submembrane (FIG. 3A), and exogenous MICAL2-PV-Myc protein was localized in the cytoplasma of COS7 cells (FIG. 3B).

(3) Growth Suppression Mediated by siRNA in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

To investigate the effect of over-expression of these genes on the growth or survival of prostate cancer cells, endogenous expression of these genes were specifically knocked down by the mammalian vector-based RNA interference (RNAi) technique. Transfection of siRNA-producing vectors of some of the designed siRNA for PCOTH (FIG. 4A) and MICAL2-PV (FIG. 4D) resulted in reduction of endogenous expression. The knocking-down effect by the siRNA on the transcript of PCOTH resulted in a drastic growth suppression in the colony formation assay and MTT assay (FIGS. 4B and 4C). The knocking-down effect by the siRNA on the transcript of MICAL2-PV also resulted in growth suppression in the colony formation assay (FIG. 4E). These findings strongly suggest that over-expression of PCOTH and MICAL2-PV in prostate cancer cells is associated with cancer cell growth and that these genes or proteins encoded by the genes are promising molecular targets for prostate cancer therapy wherein the genes are blocked or knocked down.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The expression of human genes MICAL2-PV and PCOTH is markedly elevated in prostate cancer as compared to non-cancerous prostate duct epithelium. Accordingly, these genes may serve as a diagnostic marker of prostate cancer and the proteins encoded thereby may be used in diagnostic assays of prostate cancer.

The present inventors have also shown that the expression of novel protein MICAL2-PV or PCOTH promotes cell growth whereas cell growth is suppressed by small interfering RNAs corresponding to the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene. These findings suggest that each of MICAL2-PV and PCOTH proteins stimulate oncogenic activity. Thus, each of these novel oncoproteins is a useful target for the development of anti-cancer pharmaceuticals. For example, agents that block the expression of MICAL2-PV or PCOTH, or prevent its activity may find therapeutic utility as anti-cancer agents, particularly anti-cancer agents for the treatment of prostate cancers. Examples of such agents include antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, and ribozymes against the MICAL2-PV or PCOTH gene, and antibodies that recognize MICAL2-PV or PCOTH.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A substantially pure polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6; (b) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6; and (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 4 or
 6. 2. A substantially pure polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; and (b) a polypeptide that consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 in which one or more amino acids are substituted and/or deleted and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 3. An isolated polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of claim 1 or
 2. 4. A vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim
 3. 5. A host cell harboring the polynucleotide of claim 3 or a vector comprising the polynucleotide.
 6. A method for producing the polypeptide of claim 1 or 2, said method comprising the steps of: (a) culturing a host cell comprising: (1) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide; or (2) a vector comprising the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide; (b) allowing the host cell to express the polypeptide; and (c) collecting the expressed polypeptide.
 7. An antibody binding to the polypeptide of claim
 1. 8. A polynucleotide that is complementary to the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of claim 1 or to the complementary strand thereof and that comprises at least 15 nucleotides.
 9. An antisense polynucleotide or small interfering RNA against the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of claim
 1. 10. The small interfering RNA of claim 9, wherein the sense strand thereof is nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27.
 11. A method for diagnosing prostate cancer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the expression level of the gene encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in a biological sample; and (b) relating an elevation of the expression level to the disease.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the expression level is detected by any one of the method select from the group consisting of: (a) detecting the mRNA encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, (b) detecting the protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, and (c) detecting the biological activity of the protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or
 6. 13. A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (2) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; and (3) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (b) detecting the binding activity between the polypeptide and the test compound; and (c) selecting a compound that binds to the polypeptide.
 14. A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a test compound with a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (2) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4or6; and (3) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (b) detecting the biological activity of the polypeptide of step (a); and (c) selecting a compound that suppresses the biological activity of the polypeptide in comparison with the biological activity detected in the absence of the test compound.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the biological activity is cell-proliferating activity.
 16. A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a test compound with a cell expressing one or more polynucleotides comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5; and (b) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of one or more polynucleotides comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5 in comparison with the expression level detected in the absence of the test compound.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cell is prostate cancer cell.
 18. A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a test compound with a cell into which a vector comprising the transcriptional regulatory region of one or more marker genes and a reporter gene that is expressed under the control of the transcriptional regulatory region has been introduced, wherein the one or more marker genes comprise any one of nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID:NO 1, 3 and 5, (b) measuring the activity of said reporter gene; and (c) selecting a compound that reduces the expression level of said reporter gene as compared to a control.
 19. A method of screening for a compound for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6; (2) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted, and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6; and (3) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 4 or
 6. with actin in the existence of a test compound; (b) detecting the binding between the polypeptide and actin; and (c) selecting the test compound that inhibits the binding between the polypeptide and actin.
 20. A composition for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antisense polynucleotide or small interfering RNA against a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (b) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; and (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 as an active ingredient, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 21. The composition of claim 20, wherein the sense strand of the small interfering RNA is nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 or
 27. 22. A composition for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antibody against a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (b) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; and (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 as an active ingredient, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 23. A composition for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of the compound selected by the method of any one of claims 13 to 19 as an active ingredient, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 24. A method for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the step of administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antisense polynucleotide, or small interfering RNA against a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (1) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (2) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; and (3) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or
 6. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the sense strand of the small interfering RNA is nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 or
 27. 26. A method for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the step of administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antibody against a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; (b) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6; and (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or
 6. 27. A method for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the step of administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound selected by the method of any one of claims 13 to
 19. 28. A method for treating or preventing prostate cancer, said method comprising the step of administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of (a)-(c), or a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 or fragment thereof; (b) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof.
 29. A method for inducing an anti tumor immunity, said method comprising the step of contacting a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of (a)-(c) with antigen presenting cells, or introducing a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or a vector comprising the polynucleotide to antigen presenting cells: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof; (b) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof.
 30. The method for inducing an anti tumor immunity of claim 29, wherein the method further comprising the step of administering the antigen presenting cells to a subject.
 31. A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a cancer, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of polypeptide selected from the group of (a)-(c), or a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof; (b) a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that has a biological activity equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5, wherein the polypeptide has a biological activity equivalent to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or fragment thereof as an active ingredient, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 32. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 31, wherein the polynucleotide is incorporated in an expression vector.
 33. A diagnostic agent comprises an oligonucleotide that hybridizes to the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of claim 1, or an antibody that binds to the polypeptide of claim
 1. 